The sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League won’t be starting on the earlier proposed date of June 5 after being initially postponed from June 1 and shifted from Karachi to Shiekh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The delay caused by various travel restrictions for crew and players from India and South Africa means that the tournament can only start from June 9 at the least.
“South Africans Faf Du Plessis, Riley Roussow, Cameron Delport and David Miller along with Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz were among the players whose flights landed at various airports on Saturday [May 29]. Also arriving in Abu Dhabi were South African coaches, Herschelle Gibbs and Michael Smith,” The Dawn reported.
All these personnel along with the remaining contingent from Pakistan were supposed to reach Abu Dhabi by May 26 and hence with the maximum of 10-day quarantine, the PSL was slated to restart on June 5 for the reaming 20 matches of the league to be completed.
But with both countries on the UAE’s red-list due to COVID-19, getting visas on time became a big hurdle. More Indians and South Africans arrived in the UAE by Sunday [May 30] and since they have to complete a 10-day quarantine period, the resumption of the season will not be possible by June 5,” the report said.
The PSL which started on February 20 was supposed to take place entirely in Pakistan for this edition. However, with an increase in bio-bubble breaches and subsequent COVID-19 cases in the tournament bubble, on March 4 the event was postponed.