PSL 2021: PCB awaiting visas for Indian and South African members of broadcasting crew

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is awaiting visas for its Indian and South African members for the broadcasting crew of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The tournament is all set to resume in Abu Dhabi after it hit a roadblock in March owing to rising cases of COVID-19 within the squads.

According to sources, the PCB till May 23^rd had not received visas for the Indian and South African nationals, who are in the broadcasting crew. After the procedure, the members have to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine period once they reach Abu Dhabi.

Earlier the PCB were contemplating finishing the reminder of PSL next year, owing to a cramped schedule for Pakistan and stern policy from The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) about the protocols and bio-bubbles. Later the PCB and a meeting with ECB and now the tournament is slated to begin from June 5 considering the conditions will get hotter in the later part of June and July.

PSL 2021 gears up for a finish in Abu Dhabi

“The quarantine period for the rest of the participants of the PSL 6 including Pakistani players is seven days but the PCB is worried about the broadcasting crew of Indian and South Africans because time is running out,” a source said as reported in CricketNext.

“The PCB will have to bear a lot of extra expenses as they are also planning to fly out the South African players and crew from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi on a chartered flight while remaining players and officials will take a chartered flight from Karachi to Abu Dhabi.”

Karachi was the original venue to host the remainder of PSL matches, before the National Command and Operations Authority, which monitors the COVID-19 situation, advised it against hosting the tournament again in Karachi.

The tournament is placed poignantly, as four teams are locked in six points, apart from Multan Sultans who are currently languishing at the bottom of the table. Mohammad Rizwan is currently the top run-scorer with 297 runs under his belt and is the only positive emerge from the squad after the poor first half of the tournament.