The board is planning to host the remainder of the tournament in Pakistan.
With tensions between India and Pakistan now eased, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is aiming to complete the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as soon as possible. The board is reportedly planning to resume the postponed tournament later this week.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB has called a meeting with the franchises on Monday to discuss dates and venues.
After the Indian airstrike near Rawalpindi Stadium, the PCB initially planned to host the rest of the PSL in Karachi. However, on Friday morning, they announced that the remaining 8 matches would be played in the United Arab Emirates. Later that night, the league was suspended indefinitely. The board stated that the decision was made in accordance with instructions from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
A ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan came into effect last Saturday evening — just four days after cross-border attacks. This temporary truce brought an end, for now, to what was the most intense military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
With the situation somewhat stabilized, the PCB is now eager to resume the PSL and complete the tournament swiftly. The plan is to restart the tournament within Pakistan itself.
However, a major challenge lies ahead for the franchises — securing the return of overseas players. Almost all foreign cricketers left Pakistan with safety concerns after the suspension, and according to ESPNcricinfo, most are unwilling to return. Still, a few franchises remain hopeful that they’ll be able to bring back some of their overseas stars.
The PCB will also need to re-engage in talks with broadcasters. The original agreement was valid until the final, which was scheduled for May 18. If the tournament resumes, the extension of the schedule will require renegotiation.
Extending the PSL schedule could also affect Pakistan’s upcoming series against Bangladesh. The Bangladesh team is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 for a five-match T20I series, with the first game set for May 25.
However, the series itself remains uncertain. The Bangladesh team has expressed concerns about touring Pakistan under the current “wartime-like” conditions, though it hasn’t officially canceled the tour.
Just two days ago, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Faruque Ahmed stated, “Any decision will be made only after ensuring the players’ safety.”
