Javed Miandad criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board saying everybody should be looking at saving lives right now rather than think about ways to restart the PSL 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
20 matches of the Pakistan Super League 2021 still have to be played (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- PSL 2021 was postponed in March after 7 COVID-19 cases were reported in the tournament
- PCB tried to seek permission from UAE govt. to hold remaining 20 matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- But PCB’s efforts suffered a blow as UAE government banned all travelers from Pakistan
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has slammed his country’s cricket board which is trying to figure out how and when to restart its premier domestic T20 tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had suspended the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in March after 7 players tested positive for Covid-19 in Karachi.
PCB was in talks with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to seek permission from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to hold the remaining 20 matches of PSL 6 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from 1 June.
But PCB’s efforts suffered a blow on Monday with UAE’s recent ban on travellers from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh due to the Covid-19 crisis. The travel ban will come into effect from Wednesday (May 12).
Miandad said everybody should be looking at saving lives right now rather than think about playing cricket amid the ongoing crisis.
“This is not the time to play cricket, it is the time to save lives,” Miandad was quoted as saying by CricketPakistan.com.
“In these times of crisis, we should be more focused on saving lives rather than playing cricket. The whole world has been affected by the coronavirus. India, where the world cup was supposed to take place, is also severely affected by the epidemic.
“They are risking the lives of several individuals for their own financial gains. If it was in my hands, I would not take the big risk of organising the remaining PSL matches. If they hold this event and face problems, then who will be responsible?” he said.
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