LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has slapped a ban on its players from playing in any cricket league in the United Arab Emirates other than Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The decision was taken at a meeting of the PSL Governing Council at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Tuesday afternoon.
Pakistani cricket stadiums became barren after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore on March 3, 2009 left six Lankan cricketers injured and six law-enforcing agencies’ men and two civilians dead. International cricket teams refused to play in Pakistan after the incident.
In those crucial hours, the UAE supported Pakistan and provided her grounds that became the home ground of Pakistani cricketers and they played series against South Africa, Australia, England and Sri Lanka.
The PSL was also started in the UAE as the international cricketers had refused to play in Pakistan. Three seasons of the PSL have been played there so far.
Now the UAE has announced its own cricket league on her grounds and the PCB is not happy about it.
“The Governing Council has expressed its concerns over a newly announced T20 league taking place in the UAE. It was decided that the PCB will not allow any contracted players to take part in any T20 league taking place in the UAE other than PSL,” reads an official communiqué of the PSL and PCB released after the meeting.
The PSL also decided to increase the salary cap of PSL squads as well as bringing more PSL matches to Pakistan. It was decided that at least eight matches of the next league session of the league to be played in 2019 will be played in Pakistan. All the franchise owners endorsed the decisions and reposed full trust on the PSL chairman, Najam Sethi.
Independent sport analysts, however, do not appreciate the decision of banning Pakistani cricketers from playing in the UAE cricket leagues.
“It is a bad decision. The Pakistani players get experience by playing with the international fellows. Several national team players have come from the league. More leagues mean more experience and also money for cricketers,” Farakh Ata Butt, a senior sports writer and analyst, told Arab News.
Some have different opinions and support the PCB decision: “This is a good step ahead of a long and challenging international season,” Syed Sarim Raza, a cricket analyst, told Arab News. “Pakistan are set to visit South Africa for a full tour at the start of 2019 followed by the 50-over World Cup to be held later in the English summer. PCB has adopted this strategy to save players from unnecessary fatigue and keep them fit for key international fixtures.”
PCB bans Pakistani cricketers from playing in UAE league
PCB bans Pakistani cricketers from playing in UAE league
- The (PSL) Governing Council has expressed its concerns over a newly announced T20 league taking place in the UAE
- It’s a bad decision. More leagues mean more experience and also money for cricketers, says analyst
Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at Wolves
- Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future
LONDON: Liverpool suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolves as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the Premier League’s bottom club on Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux.
Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November.
But Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool.
It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017.
Liverpool have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, with only Newcastle shipping more in the same period in the Premier League.
The Reds remain fifth but their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have been hurt by a defeat that means sixth-placed Chelsea will go above them if they beat Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future.
This was the first of Liverpool’s two trips to Molineux in the space of four days, with an immediate chance for revenge in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday.
Slot this week said he no longer finds Premier League matches a “joy to watch” due to the rise in set-piece goals, and Liverpool supporters took no pleasure from this dismal performance.
Wolves and Liverpool fans joined in a sustained round of applause on 18 minutes in memory of Diogo Jota, who wore that shirt number during his time at Molineux before joining the Reds.
Portugal forward Jota died in a car crash in Spain last year.
Crest-fallen Slot
That emotional tribute seemed to suck the energy from both teams in a scrappy first half.
Liverpool were punished for their lethargy in the 78th minute.
Tolu Arokodare got away with a nudge on Virgil van Dijk to win the ball before playing a superb pass to Rodrigo Gomes, who held off Ibrahima Konate and guided a clinical finish past Alisson Becker.
Liverpool finally awoke from their slumber after that shock, grabbing an equalizer in the 83rd minute with a helping hand from Wolves.
Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was guilty of a woeful pass that Salah intercepted, racing into the area for a shot that eluded Jose Sa’s weak attempted save.
Salah has scored just eight goals — five in the league — during a turbulent season.
Liverpool were still creaky at the back and Andre pounced on Alisson’s poor clearance four minutes to steal the points in stoppage-time.
Andre’s powerful strike deflected off Liverpool defender Joe Gomez and looped over the wrong-footed Alisson as Wolves boss Rob Edwards sprinted down the touchline in a wild celebration while Slot looked on crestfallen.
Wolves are 11 points from safety with eight games left and relegation remains almost certain despite this memorable victory.
Everton ended their dismal home form and pushed Burnley closer to relegation with a 2-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Buoyed by their 3-2 win at Newcastle last weekend, Everton dispatched second-bottom Burnley with their first win in eight home league matches.
Former Burnley defender James Tarkowski put Everton in front with a powerful header from James Garner’s 32nd minute free-kick.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doubled Everton’s advantage on the hour taking Iliman Ndiaye’s pass and clipping a composed finish past Martin Dubravka from six yards.
Everton remain in contention for a European berth, while Burnley are eight points from safety with just nine games left.
Habib Diarra’s penalty fired Sunderland to a 1-0 victory against Leeds on their first Premier League visit to Elland Road since 2002.
Bournemouth and Brentford shared a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium that did little to improve either side’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.
