PCB targets June window for remaining matches

LAHORE   –  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the franchises, the PSL Governing Council, are aiming to reschedule the Pakistan Super League (PSL-6) remaining 20 matches in June 2021 in Karachi. 

This was unanimously agreed by the six franchise owners and the PCB in a virtual meeting held on Thursday afternoon and after taking into consideration all factors relating to event organisation, said PCB spokesman here on Thursday. “June emerged as the most preferred and practical window due to Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s international commitments in March/April and late August/September. “The remaining 20 matches in June are now being planned following the national team’s return from Zimbabwe on May 13 and before their departure for England on June 26.” 

Earlier on Sunday, PCB had named an independent fact-finding panel that will review the bio-secure protocols that were put in place during the PSL. Distinguished infectious disease experts Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood and Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas have been appointed as independent members of the two-person fact-finding panel that will review the bio-secure protocols as well as the bylaws that were put in place during the Pakistan Super League 6.

The board had said the independent panel would submit its findings and recommendations to PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani by March 31. The PSL-6 was postponed following a string of positive COVID-19 cases. PCB had said the decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which had started on February 20. 

Pakistan, largely, don’t play any cricket in June when summer is at its peak. There was one exception though, in 2008, when they hosted their first ever Asia Cup between June 25 and July 6. This time they’ve agreed to play the PSL in this window and keeping player welfare in mind they’ve picked Karachi as the venue instead of Lahore because the weather there is considered to be milder even during the summer months.

With the threat of Covid-19 still around, it isn’t clear if PCB will once again use its own medical team to create the new bio-secure bubble. After lax management the first time, with several franchises reporting several breaches, it is quite likely that the board will outsource the job of setting up the bubble to a specialist firm. The PCB said that their management will now look into the operational and logistical challenges and revert to the franchise owners and stakeholders.