PSL ties will go ahead in Pakistan as scheduled
dubai — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the eight matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will go ahead as scheduled, it was confirmed on Thursday night.
There were doubts regarding those fixtures because of events over the last few days with tensions reaching fever pitch along the India-Pakistan border.
With Pakistan’s airspace being closed, there were even suggestions that the tournament will be played out in the UAE.
But PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said they had arrived at this decision following unanimous support from the six few franchises.
“I just want to reconfirm that the PSL matches will all be played in Pakistan as scheduled,” Mani said at a hurriedly called press conference at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
“We have got eight matches due to be played in Pakistan and those will take place. I would like to thank my colleagues here sitting alongside me, for their support in this. There will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that PSL will continue. It is business as usual and it will take place in Pakistan. This was an unanimous decision by all of us,” he added.
Mani, also a former president of the ICC, said that foreign players, who had given their commitment earlier, were keeping their word.
“I’m also very grateful to our overseas players who said that they are ready to come to Pakistan. They have all been supportive. They had given their commitment earlier and there is not a single once who has had second thoughts.
Meanwhile Wasim Khan, the new managing director of the PCB said: “The support shown by the owners to make this happen shows the unity, a great strength of passion and a lot of resilience based on what’s gone on over the last few days. We are getting prepared for the PSL in Pakistan and we are confident of putting up a fantastic event.”