Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering the United Arab Emirates as a venue to stage the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament, but the country’s Covid-19 body will take a final call, the governing body said on Thursday.

The PCB’s flagship tournament was suspended after 14 games in March after seven individuals, including six players, tested positive for Covid-19.

Squash legend Jahangir Khan and franchise captains pose with the PSL 2020 trophy. — Courtesy Karachi Kings Twitter/File

Pakistan Cricket Board Earlier Stated That Pakistan Super League Would Resume On June 1 And The Remaining 20 Games Will Be At Karachi

The governing body Pakistan Cricket Board had said last month that the PSL would resume on June 1 and the remaining 20 games would take place in Karachi’s National Stadium, with the final on June 20.

“Now, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) will announce the decision. If it decides that the league should be resumed, we will bio-secure Karachi and all matches would be played there,” a PCB spokesman said.

“If the NCOC does not give the go-ahead to PCB for holding matches in Karachi, we will consult the franchises to hold the rest of the tournament in the UAE.”

ESPNCricinfo reported that all six PSL franchises had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to move the tournament to the UAE, which also hosted last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. The lucrative IPL T20 competition of 2021 was suspended abruptly this week, triggered by a resurgence of the pandemic in India.

Andre Russell is unimpressed by Shakib Al Hasan’s biceps ©BCCI

The six teams participating in PSL – Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings Multan Sultans, and Quetta Gladiators – selected players who will serve as replacements for originally listed players now unavailable for the rest of PSL 2021.

The Kolkata Knight Riders duo of Andre Russell, who is one of the most sought-after T20 players, will replace Tom Banton in the Quetta Gladiators squad whereas spin all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will join Lahore Qalandars as Rashid Khan’s replacement.

IPL 2021 Was Also Suspended Indefinitely Midway By BCCI

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was suspended by The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Tuesday, due to at least six covid-19 cases in 4 franchises. Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 was also suspended early in March after 14 matches following an outbreak of cases among players and support staff.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to resume the PSL 2021 on June 1st in Karachi, the BCCI would have to reschedule the IPL 2021.

All six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to move the remaining games of the rescheduled 2021 edition of the tournament out of Karachi to the UAE because of a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan.

As it stands, the plan is for the teams to assemble in Karachi by May 23 to begin their mandatory seven-day quarantine, and action is scheduled to resume on June 2. Sixteen league-stage matches are slotted till June 14, with the playoffs taking place between June 16 and June 18, and the final on June 20.