Pakistan Cricket Board to end bio-bubble restrictions from Sri Lanka Women's series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that bio-bubble limitations, implemented two years ago due to the COVID-19 situation, will be lifted.

Sports had to be played behind closed doors with limitations due to the novel coronavirus. Pakistan was one of the first few countries to play cricket during the pandemic. They hosted the 2020 edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) with bio-bubble restrictions in place. 

The decision to lift the restrictions will be in effect with the national women's team camp in Karachi, continuing through the scheduled home series against Sri Lanka, commencing on May 24. As a result, there will be no major COVID-19 SOPs in the contests.

PCB Director of Media, Sami-ul-Hasan Burney, confirmed the news, asserting that the decision was made when the status of COVID-19 has improved in the country.

"The PCB was the first cricket board in the world to implement these rules. If the scenario stays ideal, the upcoming men's home series against the West Indies in June will similarly be played without a bio-secure atmosphere," Burney stated.

"However, the players and officials will be instructed to take precautionary steps and observe key SOPs," he added.

It should be recalled that PCB tried this out in the Pakistan Cup final in Multan, and it worked out perfectly. Also, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly is mulling the decision to lift the COVID restrictions during the South African tour of India and upcoming trips to Ireland and United Kingdom.