Karachi: foreign players participating in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) will continue their stay in the country despite the current military confrontation between Pakistan and India, said an official of the country’s Cricket Board.
India launched a tortuous attack against Pakistan on Tuesday night before the reprisals of the latter intensify the situation. But while things got serious along the border, foreign players had a meeting with PSL’s leadership.
“The foreign players met Psl Salman Naseer chief at a dinner last night and had a ‘Gup Shup’ [informal chat]”Said Amir Mir, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Amir Mir spokesman Sunrise On Wednesday. “Naturally, the current scenario may have been discussed.
“Anyway, there is no possibility that foreign players leave the country with airspace problems, but live under a heavy security blanket of the Pakistan army.
“There have been surgical attacks on both sides of the border, but we do not expect it to affect the PSL. But yes, God does not want it, things intensify, we will sit together to decide our next step.”
Meanwhile, the PCB did not expect tensions to affect the current PSL season, which is approaching its qualifying stages.
The tournament returned to Rawalpindi with the match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, with three more games to play in the place in the next three days, while the last game of the first stage of the PSL is scheduled for May 11 in fine.
According to the PCB, the qualifier will take place in Rawalpindi on May 13, while both the eliminators and the final of the event will take place on May 14, 16 and 18, respectively at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said Wednesday that he was in contact with his players who participated in the PSL.
“The BCB is in active coordination with the PCB and the high Bangladesh commission in Islamabad to ensure that all the necessary measures exist to guarantee the security of our players,” said the Board in a statement.
Speaking to a sports departure from Bangladesh, the president of BCB, Faruque Ahmed, revealed that the Board is adopting an approach to wait and see and evaluate the current situation in the next few days before making a final call.
“We are really working on the current situation [as far as going to Pakistan for the T20I series] And you can expect another three or four days, “Farauque said.” Let’s look at how our main concern is at this time about the two players [Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain] which are currently in Pakistan competing in the PSL. “
The Cricket Board of England and Wales (ECB) also announced that it would follow the orientation of the United Kingdom Foreign Ministry and consulted with its own security equipment to evaluate the situation in the field.
The Board said it was in direct contact with the players and will provide them with the latest security councils as the situation develops.
However, the ECB made it clear that the final decision on whether to remain in Pakistan for the tournament will rest with the individual players themselves.
“The Board approach is to support its players with updated information and expert orientation, while respecting your personal choices in the light of current regional tensions,” said the ECB.
New Zealand Cricket also issued an official statement that addresses the matter.
“We are aware of the relevant reports,” NzC said. “We continue to evaluate the security environment for our players and the coaching staff in all environments abroad to ensure that they receive the most up -to -date advice.”
Posted in Dawn, May 8, 2025
