PSL new schedule: When will Pakistan Super League 2021 start in UAE?

Many players and officials including Sarfraz Ahmed, Captain of Quetta Gladiator, were not allowed to board a flight to Abu Dhabi

Alok Pandey

Ground report | New Delhi: Pakistan Super League which was supposed to start on 7 June, has been delayed after visa problems of players and officials. Currently, Pakistan is on the red list of UAE's Covid guidelines which causes problems to get visas on time. The PCB is in talks with the UAE government to ensure that the remaining 20 matches of the T20 tournament take place at the earliest.

If the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) decides to put all production crew to work in Abu Dhabi from June 5, the event will begin by June 7.

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What exactly is the matter?

PSL which was suspended in march this year due to increase in Covid cases and players also started positive is now suffering with a lot of confusion with the starting date. Before the halt was brought on, 14 matches were conducted in Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board announced the remaining matches will be held in the UAE, but there is an issue with the visa.

Many players and officials including Sarfraz Ahmed, Captain of Quetta Gladiator, were not allowed to board a flight to Abu Dhabi via Doha but will now be sent through Bahrain.

They were sent home till further information. Over 200 players, support staff and tournament officials from Pakistan - 57 persons from Karachi and 145 from Lahore - are already in Abu Dhabi for the tournament after being flown on a special charter flight on May 27 - according to the Dawn.

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While there is still doubt over the date, after scheduling the second phase of the tournament. Originally it was planned to start on (June 1). Several players are yet to reach UAE , and will be required to serve mandatory Quarantine before taking on the field.

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