Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has criticised PCB after the Pakistan Super League was postponed midway due to rise in COVID-19 cases. Akhtar straight away put the onus on the medical panel and said that it should be punished.
"The medical panel should be punished and I request the higher authorities because they played with the lives of the people... All the blame has been put on Wasim Khan and he has been asked to face everything. Who has brought Wasim Khan? Ehsan Mani (brought him). Where is Mani Sahab? Is this the responsibility of Wasim Khan to answer here? Ehsan Mani should give the answer," Akhtar said in a video shared by the former cricketer on his YouTube channel.
Akhtar further added that the postponement of the tournament was an “insult” to Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.
"You (PCB) played with the lives of the people and at the same time you played with the reputation of the country. Where is the Chairman of PCB, where is Mani? Come to the front and answer. You have damaged Pakistan's reputation by ruining PSL. I am asking the higher authorities and the Prime Minister, sir look into this matter. This is an insult to Pakistan and Pakistan cricket," Akhtar added.
PCB CEO Wasim Khan on Thursday said that "this isn't about a blame game” in a press conference. "This isn't about a blame game, about who's to blame," Khan said. "This is a collective effort that we all had a responsibility to actually police and self-police that environment. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do it effectively enough. Hence we find ourselves in this situation today.”
A PCB release stated earlier that the tournament has been postponed with immediate effect.
"Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 with immediate effect. The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which had started on 20 February," the statement on the PSL official website read earlier.