KARACHI: Uncertainty surrounds the future of the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six matches, in Abu Dhabi, after it was revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to secure landing rights for UAE.
According to details, the departure of teams, which was scheduled for 1pm today, is already delayed. UAE government has also gone back on its decision to give landing rights to players and officials arriving from India and South Africa.
Meanwhile, UAE visas of former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and 25 players and PSL staff were delayed. Players and staff members from Karachi have reached the airport in the metropolis and are awaiting their chartered flight.
Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, Imran Khan, PCB Media Department Officer Emad Hameed, Asif Afridi, Umar Amin, Muhammad Musa, Zaid Alam, Zeeshan Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Imran Randhawa, Mohammad Haris, and Aamir Khan are among the players who have been denied a visa.
They will stay in the bio-secure bubbles of hotels in Karachi and Lahore until their visas are issued. After issuance of visa, they will depart for Abu Dhabi through a separate chartered flight.
PCB says exploring all possible solutions
The PCB is exploring all possible solutions to overcome these hurdles, the PCB said in a meeting with franchises owners. The franchises were updated on the unanticipated delays in the grant of landing permissions for chartered flights from India and South Africa.
The statement added that holding the remaining 20 PSL matches was proving difficult under the current circumstances. According to sources, another meeting of the PCB and franchise owners will be held in the evening.
