In the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to relocate the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to Dubai. The major change comes in the wake of increasing security concerns expressed by international players competing in the league.
In an emergency meeting presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and attended by members of all six PSL franchises, the board considered complaints expressed by foreign players. These concerns ultimately led to the move of the tournament from Pakistan.
"Keeping in view the safety and well-being of all the players engaged in the PSL, the league is being relocated to Dubai, where remaining matches will be conducted under a new schedule. Foreign players will pour into Dubai early Friday," the PCB announced in a communication to franchise teams, telecomasia.net reported.
The emergency talks also weighed the option of playing the remaining eight matches—four league matches and four play-offs—at Karachi. Yet, foreign players did not want to stay in the country after security warnings were issued by several countries, sources disclosed.
There are currently 37 international cricketers playing in the PSL. The Englishmen who are part of the squad include Sam Billings, James Vince, Tom Curran, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Luke Wood.
For Australia are David Warner, Mitchell Owen, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Max Bryant, Ashton Turner, Sean Abbott, and Ben Dwarshuis. New Zealand has Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Colin Munro, Mark Chapman, Tim Seifert, Kyle Jamieson, and Kane Williamson.
Other players are West Indies' Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, and Shai Hope; Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana of Bangladesh; USA's Andries Gous; Sri Lankans Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera; Afghans Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran; Curtis Campher and Josh Little of Ireland; Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe; and David Wiese of Namibia.
With Multan Sultans eliminated from playoff race, England's David Willey and Chris Jordan have already made plans to head back to Dubai. Australian and Kiwi players do not want to remain in Pakistan under the circumstances.
Earlier, a PSL fixture between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi was postponed on Thursday evening at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This followed after the Indian Armed Forces conducted targeted strikes on various Air Defence Radar installations, including in Rawalpindi.
The attacks came after a concerted Indian retaliation to a fatal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, killing 26 individuals. India attacked nine high-priority terror installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan tried to retaliate by attacking military targets in Northern and Western India on May 7 and 8.
One of the major Indian attacks on Thursday morning destroyed a principal air defence system deployed in Lahore, further expediting the decision of the PSL to move.
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