PCB awaiting COVID-19 test results of around 100 people associated with the PSL

The 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League became the latest to join the longstanding list of cricket tournaments that have been postponed due to the global pandemic that is coronavirus COVID-19. 

The tournament was being played behind closed doors in the past 2-3 days due to the steadily escalating situation, with the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] cutting down the league by four playing days by replacing the playoffs with traditional semi-finals- both of which were supposed to be played on Tuesday.

But, the apex cricketing body in the country had to postpone the event after it emerged that foreign players had developed COVID-19 symptoms, with commentator Rameez Raja tweeting about the same. That player was Alex Hales. However, the English opener later clarified that he had gone into self-isolation due to fever and persistent dry cough.

PCB awaiting results of the COVID-19 tests

The PCB, on Wednesday, revealed that around 100 people including players and everyone that is associated with the now postponed league have underdone COVID-19 test.

“We are expecting the first results later tonight or tomorrow,” a PCB official was quoted as saying by Times of India.

He added, “Until now no test result has come but we have taken all precautionary steps to ensure the health and safety of players and officials belonging to the semi-finalist teams, umpires, commentators and even PCB officials and production staff members.”

The official was asked if the foreigners, who were part of the production staff, had been allowed to go home post the tests, to which he said that it is an ongoing process.

“The moment we saw the message from Hales who had returned home last week we acted promptly and followed all protocol to ensure everyone’s safety and well being,” he said.

COVID-19 has brought the entire world to a standstill. And, the sports calendars have taken a major hit with almost every event getting postponed. Cricket boards will have their work cut out as far as rescheduling the postponed series is concerned, it and when the world comes back to normalcy.

As far as PCB is concerned, the suspension of PSL comes as a double jolt, days after Bangladesh’s second leg of Pakistan was postponed.