Rise in Covid cases forces PSL to be postponed

The 2021 Pakistan Super League has been postponed due to rising number of Covid-19 cases among the players and officials.

The decision comes after the number of confirmed cases within the PSL bio-secure bubble rose from three on Wednesday to seven on Thursday.

“Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the Pakistan Super League 6 with immediate effect,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

The PCB “will focus on the safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides”, it added.

Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana said the decision was long overdue and that the PCB should have delayed the start of the tournament given the ongoing pandemic.

“Unfortunately, PCB said we should continue with the plan and other franchises supported the idea,” he said.

The seven confirmed cases included Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed, England’s Tom Banton and Mohammad Faizan, who represents Lahore. Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian withdrew from the competition over fears of catching the virus.

“It’s a tough day for Pakistan cricket,” the PCB’s chief executive Wasim Khan said. “We will try to find a window to complete the remaining matches before the end of the year.”

Last year’s competition was halted at the semi-final stages in March due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases. The games were rescheduled to November and held behind closed doors, when Karachi Kings won the title.

Karachi lead the current PSL table with six points from five matches.

Previous editions were hosted wholly or partially by the UAE over security fears following the deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.