After being denied to board a commercial flight to the United Arab Emirates, 13 players and officials who were quarantining at their hotels in Lahore have been sent home to spend some time with their families as the Pakistan Cricket Board arranges a way to get them to UAE as soon as possible.
On Sunday, 30 May, it was reported by ESPNcricinfo that an 11-member contingent was denied permission to get on a commercial aircraft due to the lack of appropriate clearances required to fly to the UAE. The contingent which included the Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed have now been flown via Bahrain.
“After consulting the HBL PSL 6 medical panel and taking into consideration that approval has been obtained to fly the remaining 13 players and officials on commercial flights from Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board has made arrangements to move these personnel to their respective homes,” an official PSL release said.
“As soon as the visas are processed, the players will undergo the mandatory PCR tests before boarding the first available commercial flight,” the report added.
While the 13 players were unable to aboard the flight, 17 others succeeded as five players and officials arrived in Abu Dhabi from Karachi on May 30 via Doha, while 12 players and officials left Lahore on Sunday, 30 May evening, to reach the UAE capital via Bahrain.
“These 17 individuals were flown as per the exemption acquired from the UAE government,” the PSL release mentioned.
PCB Director – Commercial and HBL PSL 6 head Babar Hamid regretted the confusion and chaos that the players had to go through. “We regret the inconvenience that has been caused to some players and officials, but these have been due to unforeseen circumstances and unexpected challenges,” he said.
“The PCB is working hand in glove with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board, and trying its best to get all participants in Abu Dhabi in time so that we can hold the remaining tournament,” Hameed added.