LAHORE: Pakistan’s legendary former cricketer Javed Miandad has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had taken a wrong decision to conduct the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six matches in the UAE.
The former cricketer further said it was time for saving lives rather than playing cricket. He said the entire world has been affected by the COVID-19. India, where the world cup was supposed to take place, is also harshly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic,” Miandad added. He said in these times of crisis, PCB should be more focused on saving lives rather than playing cricket.
“They are risking the lives of several individuals for their own financial gains, Javed Miandad lamented. 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 questioned.
PCB was in talks with the Emirates Cricket Board to seek permission from the UAE government to hold the remaining 20 matches of the PSL in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from June 1. Sources said the PCB was expecting things to be finalised in next 24 hours.
However, the chances of PSL’s sixth edition resuming in the UAE in June diminished after the government announced a ban on travellers from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh due to the corona virus plague, sources added.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will bar travellers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka starting from May 12 (Wednesday) as part of measures to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Flights between the four countries will continue to allow the transport of passengers from the UAE to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka,” UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority had said on Monday.
The authority also extended the suspension of entry for travellers who were in these four countries in the 14-day period prior to arrival in the UAE. The ban includes transit flights coming from those countries. However, transit flights to those countries can continue.
“Exempted travelers, including UAE citizens, those on diplomatic missions, official delegations, those travelling on business planes, and golden residence holders, will be subject to precautionary measures that include a 10-day quarantine and PCR testing at the airport,” it added.
