KARACHI: Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoff matches have been called off after the recent spike in coronavirus infections recorded in the country, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told Arab News.
Emmad Hameed, a PCB official, said that the tournament was “postponed,” to be rescheduled as Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium was due to host the two semifinals on Tuesday.
The first playoff between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi was called off just hours before the match.
“Unfortunately, the PSL’s final matches have been postponed,” Javed Afridi, chairman of the Peshawar Zalmi, told Arab News. “PSL 2020 was postponed as state of emergency is declared in the country as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus, COVID-19 situation in Pakistan,” he added.
The Peshawar Zalmi owner said, “After reviewing the situation altogether, I believe it is right in favor of everyone involved in PSL20.”
The tournament was already tweaked by four days replacing three matches of qualifiers and eliminator stages with semi finals which were scheduled to be played at the Lahore’s Qaddafi stadium.
Most of the foreign players have already left Pakistan and the last five matches were played in closed stadiums.
Pakistan on Tuesday confirmed five new coronavirus cases In Karachi taking the national tally to 188 with majority documented in southern Sindh province.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League officially posted on twitter that the matches had been called off until further rescheduling.
“IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. #HBLPSLV postponed, to be rescheduled. More details to follow in due course,” the tournament’s official website said.
