Operation Sindoor aftermath: Pakistan Cricket Board says, ‘No overseas player in PSL has…’
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Wednesday, claimed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 will continue as per schedule despite the increasing cross-border tensions with India following the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The Indian armed forces, in the early hours of Wednesday, launched precision missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including the strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke.
The strikes were in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down. An official in the board also confirmed that until yet no overseas players had put in any request to leave the league because of the geopolitical situation.
At least three media managers of the six franchises in the league said it was a developing situation but so far no overseas player (s) from their teams had requested to leave the league. Each franchise in the league has 5-6 overseas players in their squads.
The PCB said the match scheduled between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Rawalpindi will be hosting matches on May 7, 8, 9 and 10. Thereafter the final group stage match is scheduled in Multan on 11 May.
The Qualifier is set to take place in Rawalpindi on 13 May, while both Eliminators (1 and 2) and Final of the marquee event are to take place on 14, 16 and 18 May, respectively at the Gaddafi Stadium.
IPL teams face logistical challenge ahead of games in Dharamsala
The travel plans of IPL teams which are scheduled to play in Dharamsala this week have gone for a toss due to the temporary closure of the hill town’s airport after India’s missile attack on Pakistan and the BCCI is weighing its options to deal with the volatile situation. Dharamsala, which is due to host the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals clash on Thursday, has one more match left on schedule — the May 11 game between Punjab and Mumbai Indians.
For Thursday’s game, both teams have touched base. But the usage of floodlights in the evening match is a security issue given the tense situation and could have a bearing on whether the match goes ahead as scheduled.
“We have not got any written intimation from either the BCCI, or the central and state governments about cancellation of tomorrow’s match. Unless there is any official instruction, we are going ahead with the schedule,” a Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association source told PTI.
The Sunday clash is a logistical challenge as well right now given that MI is in no position to travel due to the airport’s indefinite closure. The BCCI, it is learnt, is mulling the option of shifting the game to Mumbai.
The picturesque city is the second home base of Punjab Kings. “We have not been told about the venue change yet. We are waiting to hear from the BCCI,” a Punjab Kings official said.
News