PSL 2022: Five new Covid-19 cases reported in three different franchises

The difficulty of conducting the Pakistan Super League seventh edition has been rising day by day for the Pakistan Cricket Board now as five new cases have been reported from as many as three franchises. Two of the officials for the PSL 2022 season have now tested positive for Covid-19 which is not a piece of ideal news for the board. The PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja already had measures in place for the Covid-19 scenario and the franchises have agreed to take the field if each of the squad has 13 players available in order to ensure that the matches do not have to be skipped.

Also, Raja has initiated a seven-day halt of the tournament in case of an uncontrollable Covid-19 outbreak in the camp and it is definitely not going to be easy for the tournament to be conducted within the scheduled time. The players and officials of the upcoming edition are expected to arrive in Karachi by January 20 and the quarantine will go ahead along with the Covid-19 Tests. The tournament is just seven days from the start and PCB will be hoping that the situation improves soon.

James Faulkner, Shimron Hetmyer, and Luke Wood test positive

According to reports from India Today, West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer, Australian all-rounder James Faulkner and England left-arm seamer Luke Wood have all tested positive for Covid-19 and are placed in isolation. They were expected to arrive in Karachi but their arrival has now been delayed and they will also miss the first game for the Quetta Gladiators against the Peshawar Zalmi.

It is to be noted that all games of the upcoming edition of PSL will be held in just the two venues of Lahore and Karachi to reduce the possibility of players contracting the virus through travel. The crowd capacity for the matches have been reduced to 25 percent and this will be a huge responsibility for the PCB to ensure the tournament is conducted according to the safety measures.

Australia is scheduled to travel to Pakistan in March for a full bilateral series and this will be the former’s first tour to the subcontinent nation since 1998. The Covid-19 scenario is going to be a big part of assuring the series takes place as scheduled.