ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the Pakistani government’s central body dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, has issued guidelines for spectators of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament which starts on February 20.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that matches would be played with only 20 percent spectators at two stadiums in Karachi and Lahore.
Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league, launched in 2016, has been a huge success, even though many of the matches in the first five editions had to be played in the United Arab Emirates due to security risks. Last year, all matches of the series were played in Pakistan for the first time, but the final in March was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and finally played in November before an empty stadium.
“The purpose of these guidelines is to outline the procedures and protocols in place at the proposed venues of PSL 6 for 20% spectators in attendance,” NCOC said in statement issued this week.
“There will be basic health (symptoms) and temperature checks in place for spectators at every entry point. Should any person display symptoms while at the stadium they will be directed toward the stadium hospital immediately and may be refused entry to the stadium,” it added.
NCOC said PCB had built a five-bed temporary hospital, with doctors and paramedics, at both venues of the matches.
Tickets would be sold online and could be printed at home. People would sit two seats apart, wear masks and groups had to be members of the same family.
Pakistan had largely been starved of international cricket since a 2009 attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, which killed eight Pakistanis and wounded six players and a British coach. The incident forced Pakistan to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates, with foreign players refusing to play on Pakistani soil.
But the unprecedented popularity of PSL, which brought 40 foreign players to the country in 2019, is seen as pivotal in changing the global cricket community’s opinion of Pakistan’s ability to host international matches.
Over 80 million people, roughly 70 percent of Pakistan’s TV-viewing public, tuned in to watch the final game of the series last year.
Six teams play in the series, representing the cities of Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Multan.
Pakistan announces coronavirus guidelines for Pakistan Super League cricket matches
https://arab.news/gm6js
Pakistan announces coronavirus guidelines for Pakistan Super League cricket matches
- Matches to be played with only 20% spectators at two stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, tickets to be sold online
- Temporary hospitals set up at both venues, people to sit two seats apart, groups must be members of same family
Pakistan delay call on T20 World Cup participation by a week
- Controversy erupted after India replaced Bangladesh with Scotland over Bangladesh’s decision to not play any matches in India
- Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday lambasted the ICC for its ‘double standards’ when it came to Bangladesh
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will finalize its participation in the Men’s International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup by Feb. 2, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The controversy over Pakistan’s participation erupted after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament following Bangladesh’s decision to not play any matches in India owing to security fears. Bangladesh had requested a venue outside India for their World Cup matches, amid tensions between the two countries.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tournament will be played from Feb. 7 to Mar. 8 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches being played across both countries and the final scheduled in Ahmedabad.
During a meeting in Islamabad, Naqvi briefed Sharif over the recent developments involving Bangladesh and the ICC.
“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,” Naqvi said in a post on X.
“Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table,” he continued. “It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.”
On Sunday, Naqvi lambasted the ICC for its “double standards” when it came to Bangladesh, pointing out that India and Pakistan were allowed to play against each other at neutral venues as per an earlier deal between both cricket boards and the ICC.
Earlier in January, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman due to political tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi since the ouster of former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to India.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, one of the tournament’s co-hosts. If Pakistan decides to participate, the country will open their campaign against the Netherlands on Feb. 7 and will face defending champions India on Feb. 15 in a group-stage match in Colombo.
