Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Wasim Khan at a press conference about postponement of PSL 5:
"PCB in consultation with the franchises has postponed PSL with a view of rescheduling for a later date.
"We said we were working with the local govt. We decided to play behind closed doors, first in Karachi then Lahore. The decision was made to protect everyone involved with the PSL.
"We're facing a pandemic globally and people are losing lives. Safety is paramount.
"We took a number of measures including thermal guns to check temperatures of players and officials. We decided to reduce the number of days and matches and gave the option to the players to leave and take no further part in the PSL.
"We felt it was our right to do that. We had an obligation to do that. We gave the local players the option as well and implemented all the measures for everyone involved.
"The decision we have taken this morning has been taken after consultation. The franchises have supported us.
"We are supporting the govt. initiative for a few things, big issues in Pakistan. One is drugs awareness, and now the other is coronavirus which is affected the whole word. We're here to listen to the govt and support them and it's our obligation to ensure everyone's safety and to raise awareness of this. That is why we have taken this decision.
"A player is potentially suspected of having the virus. But that player's identity is private, we won't take his name, but there is a suspected case. He is an overseas player who isn't in Pakistan and has developed the symptoms in the last 24 hours.
"We were taking all precautionary measures. Previously the govt. told us to play behind closed doors. Now according to the circumstances, we felt it's best to postpone the tournament.
"The teams were ready to play today. Multan and Peshawar were leaving their hotels when we made this decision. Franchises take care of their players and their well being.
"The player who is suspected has departed Pakistan. When he told us he has the symptoms, then we took this measure. It's not about panicking, it was a thought out response. We hadn't made this decision before but when we found out about the suspected case, we took this decision.
"We have taken responsibility from the beginning by working with local govts. First we decided to play it in empty stadiums, we had empty stadiums then we had screening. We gave players the option to leave. We were also considering preponement. We took all the measures for betterment.
"After the suspected case, we decided it was best to postpone it.
"PCB has to make decisions. Local govts. can give us advice about supporters, fans, etc. But the decision is up to PCB. The players are our responsibility and we have to look after the health and well-being of the players. When we knew there was a suspected case, we took this decision.
"We intend to postpone this tournament, not cancel it. We will reschedule it. We haven't decided when we will do that, we will discuss with franchises and come to a decision.
"Teams weren't refusing to play but they did have concerns after this suspected case came up.
"Everything isn't about profit, we're talking about lives and health. Players have families, kids. That is the most important thing. This is not a costly decision, it's a good decision. We will reschedule and have the SFs and final later.
"The whole world is planning now. Sport has come to a halt. Cricket has been cancelled everywhere, it's not a new thing. First and foremost, we have to be concerned about everyone's health and safety. This is a major pandemic affecting everyone. Cricket comes second. We will resume the cricket when it's possible."
"PCB in consultation with the franchises has postponed PSL with a view of rescheduling for a later date.
"We said we were working with the local govt. We decided to play behind closed doors, first in Karachi then Lahore. The decision was made to protect everyone involved with the PSL.
"We're facing a pandemic globally and people are losing lives. Safety is paramount.
"We took a number of measures including thermal guns to check temperatures of players and officials. We decided to reduce the number of days and matches and gave the option to the players to leave and take no further part in the PSL.
"We felt it was our right to do that. We had an obligation to do that. We gave the local players the option as well and implemented all the measures for everyone involved.
"The decision we have taken this morning has been taken after consultation. The franchises have supported us.
"We are supporting the govt. initiative for a few things, big issues in Pakistan. One is drugs awareness, and now the other is coronavirus which is affected the whole word. We're here to listen to the govt and support them and it's our obligation to ensure everyone's safety and to raise awareness of this. That is why we have taken this decision.
"A player is potentially suspected of having the virus. But that player's identity is private, we won't take his name, but there is a suspected case. He is an overseas player who isn't in Pakistan and has developed the symptoms in the last 24 hours.
"We were taking all precautionary measures. Previously the govt. told us to play behind closed doors. Now according to the circumstances, we felt it's best to postpone the tournament.
"The teams were ready to play today. Multan and Peshawar were leaving their hotels when we made this decision. Franchises take care of their players and their well being.
"The player who is suspected has departed Pakistan. When he told us he has the symptoms, then we took this measure. It's not about panicking, it was a thought out response. We hadn't made this decision before but when we found out about the suspected case, we took this decision.
"We have taken responsibility from the beginning by working with local govts. First we decided to play it in empty stadiums, we had empty stadiums then we had screening. We gave players the option to leave. We were also considering preponement. We took all the measures for betterment.
"After the suspected case, we decided it was best to postpone it.
"PCB has to make decisions. Local govts. can give us advice about supporters, fans, etc. But the decision is up to PCB. The players are our responsibility and we have to look after the health and well-being of the players. When we knew there was a suspected case, we took this decision.
"We intend to postpone this tournament, not cancel it. We will reschedule it. We haven't decided when we will do that, we will discuss with franchises and come to a decision.
"Teams weren't refusing to play but they did have concerns after this suspected case came up.
"Everything isn't about profit, we're talking about lives and health. Players have families, kids. That is the most important thing. This is not a costly decision, it's a good decision. We will reschedule and have the SFs and final later.
"The whole world is planning now. Sport has come to a halt. Cricket has been cancelled everywhere, it's not a new thing. First and foremost, we have to be concerned about everyone's health and safety. This is a major pandemic affecting everyone. Cricket comes second. We will resume the cricket when it's possible."
-Babar Azam
