LAHORE\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Some players\u2019 irresponsible behvaiour and PCB\u2019s lenient approach towards COVID-19\u2019s SOPs led to the\u00a0postponement\u00a0of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League on Thursday, background discussions have revealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The behavior of some players especially the local ones remained irresponsible during this season as they breached the bio-secure bubble, which proved harmful not only for them but also for the entire PSL, which was now postponed by the PCB. The cricket board also remained lenient towards forcing the players to strictly follow the COVID-19 SOPs and in fact, they failed to have complete check and balance on the players and their activities, which led to the postponement of the mega event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When PCB CEO Wasim Khan was asked about the breach of the bio-secure bubble during the press conference, he lamented that the trust in the PCB\u2019s handling of the event had been broken. \u201cA bio-secure bubble is all about trust and discipline. There has to be trust for players, with all the partners working together. We have to recognise, internationally, this will make the news. It is a difficult day, a lot of work and effort went into our last major event of the calendar. Building trust will take some time, but we will make sure this doesn\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This episode of breaching bio-secure bubble started when Peshawar Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz and coach Darren Sammy breached the bubble to go and meet franchise owner Javed Afridi the night before the tournament began. They were later allowed to effectively ignore the league\u2019s own three-day quarantine period but later, it became a big pain for the PCB to handle this matter and defend this decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the environment of the hotel was secure for the players and officials, where all the SOPs were being strictly followed, yet the loopholes were found later, when at the same hotel, the management allowed wedding functions, while besides players, the spa and gyms were also being used by the public as well. Had the entire hotel acquired by the PCB, the situation could have been far better and harmless for the franchise players and officials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some franchise owners and spokespersons also expressed their disappointment for postponing the PSL-6, saying they had invested heavily in their team and players and also prepared really hard for this season, but such breaches of the SOPs really ruined their good work done by them for this year\u2019s PSL. \u201cIt\u2019s sad and very unfortunate the way things panned out,\u201d a spokesman of Lahore Qalandars said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere were clear breaches and with growing cases, we had no option but to agree to postpone the PSL-6 with immediate effect. It was important for the health of our players and support staff, and it\u2019s our duty to protect them. \u201cWe came here because we were invited by the PCB as they were the host, and we had trust in that, but there were loopholes. There were multiple wedding functions in the same hotel with the spa and gym area had common use.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomebody has to take responsibility for this mismanagement. We have worked so hard in the last five years to bring this brand back to Pakistan but the PCB\u2019s negligence disappointed me, my team, and the fans. There were breaches and nobody is accountable for them. The hotel was vulnerable, and I don\u2019t understand why they had booked it entirely for the duration of the tournament?\u201d Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal quoted as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now the question arises here that whether anyone – either the PCB or players \u2013 will take responsibility for the PSL postponement? This is the question being asked by every cricket fan of the country, and they are very disheartened with this decision and want the PCB to take responsibility for the task. The fans on their social media handlers are asking for resignations of the incompetent and irresponsible officials, whose lenient approaches towards SOPs led to the postponement of the mega event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Wasim Khan, during a presser, was asked whether he or other senior officials, would resign, he ignored the question, saying an investigation will take place. \u201cWe will do a full investigation not to be done by the PCB staff, but by the Board of Governors, who will investigate and try to find where we went wrong and what did we not fulfill,\u201d the PCB CEO said. \u201cWhen such situations come up, everybody questions themselves. Now is a time for reflection, and we will see what happens after that. Right now this is about making sure players leave and leave safely.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Some players\u2019 irresponsible behvaiour and PCB\u2019s lenient approach towards COVID-19\u2019s SOPs led to the\u00a0postponement\u00a0of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League on Thursday, background discussions have revealed.\u00a0 The behavior of some players especially the local ones remained irresponsible during this season as […]<\/p>\n
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