PCB cuts short PSL after some foreign players opt to leave Pakistan over coronavirus

F.P. Report

KARACHI (Monitoring Desk): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday decided to cut short the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 and hold the final match of the tournament on March 18 instead of March 23.

According to a press release by the cricketing body, the playoff match has been replaced by the semi-finals, which will be held in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 17; one at 2pm and the second at 7pm. The final will also take place at the Gaddafi Stadium at 7pm on March 18.

The playoff matches scheduled for today, tomorrow and March 15 will be held according to schedule.

A decision on whether to allow spectators in the stadium during the remaining matches will be made after consultation with the Punjab government, the press release said.

The announcement came hours after the board announced that the tournament will continue as planned.

PCB had also said that all players participating in PSL 2020 have been given the option to pull out of the tournament amid growing fears of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in the day, Sindh confirmed its first “secondary contact case”, taking Pakistan’s coronavirus tally to 21.

“Today, the PCB and the team owners, as part of their duty of care, have decided to give all the players the option to decide if they wish to return home,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan was quoted as saying.

According to an official statement by the cricket board, the following players have confirmed they will not take part in any future matches of the tournament.

Alex Hales – Karachi Kings

Rilee Rossouw – Multan Sultans

James Vince – Multan Sultans

Tom Banton – Peshawar Zalmi

Carlos Brathwaite – Peshawar Zalmi

Liam Dawson – Peshawar Zalmi

Lewis Gregory – Peshawar Zalmi

Liam Livingstone – Peshawar Zalmi

Jason Roy – Quetta Gladiators

Tymal Mills – Quetta Gladiators

Peshawar Zalmi coach James Foster is also going back home. However, none of the players from Lahore Qalanders or Islamabad United have said they are withdrawing from the league.

“This remains an evolving and unprecedented situation with a number of moving parts that require constant and regular monitoring. Ensuring that the players feel comfortable remains paramount to the PCB,” Khan said.

“As of now, it is important to emphasise and clarify that the main concern of many of the 10 players and a coach, who have chosen to return home, revolves around avoiding a potential situation where they might become stranded either due to flight cancellations or border closures in their own countries.”

He added that the PCB will facilitate their safe return and will ensure the same for all of the players and support staff personnel who decide to withdraw from the league.

“We will continue to assess and review the situation and will not hesitate to make what we believe are the right decisions for everyone involved,” he said.

Yesterday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had announced that all PSL matches at Karachi’s National Stadium would be played without spectators.

“A high risk is involved in allowing spectators to gather in the stadium to witness the matches and we can’t put everyone at risk, therefore matches will be held without spectators,” he had said.

The PCB has endorsed the Sindh government’s decision and the board’s chief executive had also said that they were in consultation with the Punjab government over holding the remaining matches without spectators.