Rashid Latif feels Multan Sultans should be crowned champions of PSL 2020 according to the playing rules

The 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) had to be called off (postponed) unfortunately due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators had qualified for the semi-finals. However, a few hours before the start of the first semi-final, the PSL had to be called off with immediate effect.

The PCB had condensed the tournament earlier scrapping the playoffs concept and had also rescheduled the final to March 18 from March 22. However, after knowing that Alex Hales, who played for the Karachi Kings, had developed the symptoms of Coronavirus, the PCB had no option but to call off the competition.

Since then, the debate has been going on if the matches should be played later or the table toppers Multan Sultans should be declared winners even as the PCB is identifying window to organise the matches later in the year.

The former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has given his opinion on the matter and has cited the playing rules for the fifth edition of the PSL to come to a conclusion. According to the rules, if any play off doesn’t take place due to any interruption which is out of human control, then the teams with the higher standing in the league stage will make it to the final.

Similarly, if the final doesn’t take place due to interruption out of human control, which has happened in this case, the table toppers should be crowned the champions. Accordingly, Multan Sultans who topped the table after playing 10 matches should be declared the winners. Rashid Latif took to his official Twitter handle to depict the same and also tagged all the four semi-finalists of the tournament.

Here’s his tweet:

⁦@TheHBLPSL⁩ v playing Rules ⁦@MultanSultans⁩ will be new champion .. ⁦@PeshawarZalmi⁩ ⁦@KarachiKingsARY⁩ ⁦@IslamabadUnited⁩ ⁦@lahoreqalandars⁩ ⁦@TeamQuetta⁩ pic.twitter.com/Wm1I5VkG0P

— Rashid Latif راشد لطیف 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) March 30, 2020

Multan Sultans won six out of 10 matches in the league stage

Multan Sultans were clearly the best team in the league stage of this edition of the PSL which was entirely played in Pakistan for the first time. They won six out of 10 matches and lost only a couple while the other two games were washed out. The Sultans eventually ended up with 14 points to their name making it to the next round of the competition for the first time in five seasons. However, with the Coronavirus wrecking havoc around the world, their chance to win the PSL trophy was gone.