Independent panel named to review bio-secure protocols in place during PSL 6

[MenInG]

HBL PSL 2021: Independent fact-finding panel named

Lahore, 7 March 2021:

Distinguished infectious disease experts Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood and Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas have been appointed as independent members of the two-person fact-finding panel that will review the bio-secure protocols as well as the bylaws that were put in place during the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021.

Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood is an Associate Professor, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, while Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas is a Consultant Infectious Diseases and General Medicine with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore.

The independent panel will submit its findings and recommendations to PCB Chairman Mr Ehsan Mani by 31 March.

The independent panel has been tasked to carry-out a holistic and detailed review of the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures for the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021, identify any gaps and advise as to the reasons why the bio-secure environment did not remain Covid-free.

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani: “The PCB takes the health and safety of its players, player support personnel and match officials seriously. We have demonstrated our duty of care in the international series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as during the nine domestic events in which we successfully staged 220 matches. This included the 34-match National T20 Cup in Multan and Rawalpindi as well as the first and second elevens Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup in Karachi.

“The independent panel of two distinguished experts has been appointed with the sole purpose of an honest, constructive and objective review.

“The independent panel will speak with all the relevant stakeholders, including the event and hotel staff, medical and compliance officers, team players and managements, so that we can get a better understanding how the cases occurred.

“The independent panel will make such recommendations as it considers appropriate.”

About the Independent Panel:

Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood

Diplomate, American Board of Infectious Diseases, 2002, and American Board of Internal Medicine, 2004; MBBS, The Aga Khan University, Pakistan, 1997

Associate Professor & Section Head Infectious Diseases, The Aga Khan University; Chair Infection Control Committee, Aga Khan University


Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas

MPH (USA) (2018); Diplomate American Board of Infectious Diseases, 2017, and American Board of Internal Medicine, 2015; MBBS, The Aga Khan University, 2010

 

[MenInG]

If the same people who messed up appoint people to do an inquiry, then how will it be independent?

 

[JattMaula]

If the same people who messed up appoint people to do an inquiry, then how will it be independent?

At least review isn't in-house.

Hope they find the shortcomings
present so PCB and whole cricket world can learn from it.

 

[MenInG]

At least review isn't in-house.

Hope they find the shortcomings
present so PCB and whole cricket world can learn from it.

The findings should be published un-edited and originals of the finding need to be put up.

 

[moghul]

Good first step, both are qualified physicians, ABIM certified in infectious diseases. Hope they will submit an independent report. My fear is that everyone in Pakistan give a bit too much importance and shows loyalty to personal contact, hope these doctors don't have any with the parties involved.

 

[street cricketer]

The PCB do love their independent panels, inquiries and reviews don't they..

 

[OMB]

Why not also add a WHO appointee to be an independent eye

 

[Abu_Hamza]

The PCB do love their independent panels, inquiries and reviews don't they..

But any panel without INTIKHAB ALAM heading it and HAROON RASHEED and WASIM BARI as its members should not have any importance as they are tried and tested ones.

 

[moghul]

But any panel without INTIKHAB ALAM heading it and HAROON RASHEED and WASIM BARI as its members should not have any importance as they are tried and tested ones.

Absolutely

 

[cricketjoshila]

How independent is this independent panel?

 

[The_Real_Deal]

But the real question is: where is Intikhab Alam?

 

[Saj]

How independent is this independent panel?

Ideally rather than sending the report straight to the PCB Chairman, what I would like to happen is that the report goes straight to an independent third party before it goes to the PCB.

 

[Saj]

From a friend who is a Dr and works in sports:

This is a joke. How are they independent. What experience do they have of holding and organising sports events. Also in every other country where we have a medical panel like in premier league there is an infectious disease consultant who advises regarding the disease but the protocols are drawn up by those who work in the sport. This will be another cover up.

Not doubting their credentials as infectious disease Doctors but they not experts at managing sports during covid. We have infectious disease giving us info Re the disease when we design protocols but not to overseer the whole plan and setup. Incredible.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Ideally rather than sending the report straight to the PCB Chairman, what I would like to happen is that the report goes straight to an independent third party before it goes to the PCB.

PCB chair man will sit on the report.

 

[Saj]

From a friend who is a Dr and works in sports:

This is a joke. How are they independent. What experience do they have of holding and organising sports events. Also in every other country where we have a medical panel like in premier league there is an infectious disease consultant who advises regarding the disease but the protocols are drawn up by those who work in the sport. This will be another cover up.

Not doubting their credentials as infectious disease Doctors but they not experts at managing sports during covid. We have infectious disease giving us info Re the disease when we design protocols but not to overseer the whole plan and setup. Incredible.

 

[Markhor]

But the real question is: where is Intikhab Alam?

He would call the doctors mentally r-ed like he described the players after the 2010 Australia tour

 

[Savak]

Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood is one of the top infections disease specialists in Pakistan. I called him and took his advice when I unwell and bedridden in Pakistan for a week

 

[moghul]

From a friend who is a Dr and works in sports:

This is a joke. How are they independent. What experience do they have of holding and organising sports events. Also in every other country where we have a medical panel like in premier league there is an infectious disease consultant who advises regarding the disease but the protocols are drawn up by those who work in the sport. This will be another cover up.

Not doubting their credentials as infectious disease Doctors but they not experts at managing sports during covid. We have infectious disease giving us info Re the disease when we design protocols but not to overseer the whole plan and setup. Incredible.

Most of the infectious diseases specialists trained in US, as these two doctors are , also have training in epidemiology and prevention of diseases. I am sure these doctors are quite capable of finding out what went wrong .

 

[Saj]

Most of the infectious diseases specialists trained in US, as these two doctors are , also have training in epidemiology and prevention of diseases. I am sure these doctors are quite capable of finding out what went wrong .

As I said before, my bigger concern is that the report is going straight to the PCB Chairman and not to any third party.

Not that anyone involved in Pakistan cricket would ever dream of any corruption or cover-up

 

[moghul]

As I said before, my bigger concern is that the report is going straight to the PCB Chairman and not to any third party.

Not that anyone involved in Pakistan cricket would ever dream of any corruption or cover-up

A friend of mine , a politician in Pakistan, a very smart guy , once told me , whenever their is a crisis and the government is responsible for that , the best way to diffuse the tension always is to form an "independent committee" . Committee would take his own sweet time and most of the reports are not published unless acceptable to the government.

 

[Saj]

A friend of mine , a politician in Pakistan, a very smart guy , once told me , whenever their is a crisis and the government is responsible for that , the best way to diffuse the tension always is to form an "independent committee" . Committee would take his own sweet time and most of the reports are not published unless acceptable to the government.

I think it would be good for PCB, the PSL, the franchises and Pakistan cricket if the truth is revealed rather than it being brushed under the carpet.

If it is brushed under the carpet, then there is every chance of things going wrong in future.

 

[Savak]

A Supreme Court JIT commission along the lines of what has been set up for the Fake Bank Accounts Case, the Panama Case is more apt for this national fiasco. It will allow for a more reliable independent investigation from the PCB

 

[MenInG]

HBL PSL 2021: Independent fact-finding panel named

Lahore, 7 March 2021:

Distinguished infectious disease experts Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood and Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas have been appointed as independent members of the two-person fact-finding panel that will review the bio-secure protocols as well as the bylaws that were put in place during the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021.

Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood is an Associate Professor, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, while Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas is a Consultant Infectious Diseases and General Medicine with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore.

The independent panel will submit its findings and recommendations to PCB Chairman Mr Ehsan Mani by 31 March.

The independent panel has been tasked to carry-out a holistic and detailed review of the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures for the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021, identify any gaps and advise as to the reasons why the bio-secure environment did not remain Covid-free.

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani: “The PCB takes the health and safety of its players, player support personnel and match officials seriously. We have demonstrated our duty of care in the international series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as during the nine domestic events in which we successfully staged 220 matches. This included the 34-match National T20 Cup in Multan and Rawalpindi as well as the first and second elevens Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup in Karachi.

“The independent panel of two distinguished experts has been appointed with the sole purpose of an honest, constructive and objective review.

“The independent panel will speak with all the relevant stakeholders, including the event and hotel staff, medical and compliance officers, team players and managements, so that we can get a better understanding how the cases occurred.

“The independent panel will make such recommendations as it considers appropriate.”

About the Independent Panel:

Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood

Diplomate, American Board of Infectious Diseases, 2002, and American Board of Internal Medicine, 2004; MBBS, The Aga Khan University, Pakistan, 1997

Associate Professor & Section Head Infectious Diseases, The Aga Khan University; Chair Infection Control Committee, Aga Khan University


Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas

MPH (USA) (2018); Diplomate American Board of Infectious Diseases, 2017, and American Board of Internal Medicine, 2015; MBBS, The Aga Khan University, 2010

PCB have confirmed that the report will be filed with Ehsan Mani on Friday and will be officially filed on Saturday.

 

[JattMaula]

PCB have confirmed that the report will be filed with Ehsan Mani on Friday and will be officially filed on Saturday.

So the report will be pre-vetted by PCB before the "official" release?

 

[MenInG]

So the report will be pre-vetted by PCB before the "official" release?

That's very normal

PCB may have a view on it - may want to query before it is put out to public

 

[MenInG]

Update from PCB

Report by the Independent panel for review of PSL 6 bio-secure procedures has been filed and made available to the PCB and Chairman Ehsan Mani.

PCB will now consider the findings and decide on appropriate actions, in due course,

 

[MenInG]

According to sources, the panel has identified all the possible reasons and responsible individuals

“The players showed carelessness while being in the bio-secure bubble. Initially, due to the soft attitude of the PCB, the players showed negligence,” the report revealed.

“Various private events in the hotel also led to the spread of COVID-19 among participants while franchises also couldn’t fulfill their responsibilities properly,” the report added.

“If steps had been taken in the first positive case, the situation could have been avoided,” the report maintained.

ARY

 

[Firebat]

Pakistan Super League 6 bio-bubble was broken and compromised on several occasions: PCB

KARACHI: An independent fact finding committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the bio-bubble set up for the PSL 6 was broken and compromised on several occasions.

The two-member committee of infectious diseases experts was constituted by the PCB to probe what went wrong with the bio-secure bubble in PSL 6.

The final report of Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood and Dr Salma Muhammad Abbas was submitted to the PCB chairman Ehsan Mani on March 31.

The PCB chief will now study the report and share the details with the board members before any final decision is taken.

But a source privy to the findings of the committee said that while it had not blamed any particular individual, the report had confirmed that there were several occasions when the bio-secure bubble was compromised during the tournament in Karachi.

The source said the committee had also made recommendations on how the board can ensure a safe and secure bio-secure bubble for stakeholders when the PSL 6 resumes in June.

The PSL 6 was postponed by the PCB in early March after just 10 of the 34 matches were completed following a rise in COVID-19 cases in the event.

The PCB had to postpone PSL 6 abruptly after several players, including foreigners Fawad Ahmed, Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory and some local players and officials had contracted the virus despite remaining in a bio-secure bubble.

Interestingly, the source said the experts had mentioned that some stakeholders had even brought to notice of some PCB officials about the bio-secure breaches but they didn't respond proactively.

The PCB has said that it would take action against those employees found to be responsible for not enforcing the bio-secure bubble properly.

Dr Sohail Saleem, who is head of the PCB's medical and sports sciences department, has already submitted his resignation to the board chairman after the PSL was postponed on March 4.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sp...romised-on-several-occasions-pcb-2286154.html

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not make public the report of its two-member inquiry committee on departments and people responsible for breach of the SOPs during the Pakistan Super League 6 in Karachi, resulting in the postponement of the league in its midway on March 4.

The committee has submitted its report to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani this week. However, still the PCB has to do an internal discussion to take further actions in the light of the reports.

Dawn learnt that the report will be discussed with the members of the Board of Governors in due course of time. The report, it is learnt, did not mention the name of any official specifically responsible for the breach of the SOPs. However, it has pointed out the failure of some of the departments for not taking swift and appropriate measures to stop the free mingling of the cricketers, team managements, match officials and owners of the PSL franchises with the guests staying at the teams’ hotel.

The PCB may announce a policy for the future under the light of the report that how it will now impose the SOPs. The PCB has also announced that the remaining 20 matches of the suspended PSL will be held in the month of June this year. And now the PCB will hire a foreign company to strictly implement the SOPs, like the other cricket boards of the world.

It may be mentioned here that the PCB has already admitted that the mistakes were made in observation of the SOPs and by head of the medical team of the PCB Dr. Sohail Saleem who has already tendered in his resignation. However, many believe Dr Sohail has been made the scapegoat as his medical team had a good number of staffers but they could not control the players of the six participating teams and their officials, PCB staff and the owners of the franchises to follow the SOPs.

The second responsibility for the breach may be put on the security department, though it was not the original duty of this department to enforce the implementation of the Covid-19 SOPs. The other cricket boards of the world are hiring special companies which specialise in implementing the regulations. However, the PCB decided to go ahead with PSL 6 without hiring any such expertise.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2021

 

[Savak]

Need to get the Govt of Pakistan to police these Franchise Owners.

 

[MenInG]

From BoG meeting:

The BoG received a presentation and an update on the report of the two-person fact-finding panel that was set-up by the PCB Chairman to review the bio-security protocols, bylaws and arrangements for the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 and make recommendations on how to better ensure implementation of a bio-secure environment for future events.

The BoG discussed and debated the panel’s findings in detail. They expressed their disappointment at the failures that were highlighted in the report and advised remedial actions needed to be taken.

The BoG endorsed all recommendations of the fact-finding panel, including robust and stringent implementation of the protocols, as well as maintaining a zero-tolerance approach towards all those who breach the Covid-19 SOPs, which are put in place for safeguarding the health and safety of all participants.

The BoG was informed that as part of the strategy to ensure the HBL PSL 6 resumed and completed in a safe and secure environment, the PCB was in final stages of appointing a globally-recognised safety management company that specialises in providing Covid-safe technology solutions, bio-secure monitoring & management, as well as response and reaction to positive tests.

The members were informed that a mandatory seven-day quarantine period for all participants will commence from 22 May in one hotel and following three days of training sessions, HBL PSL 6 matches will resume on 1 June with the final scheduled for 20 June.

 

[MenInG]

As per media reports:

Franchises not happy with PCB regarding the report:

“We have come to know that franchises have been blamed in the report for the postponement of PSL. However, PCB is to blame for whatever happened.”

PCB’s Director Media Samiul Hasan Burney, when contacted, said: “We have informed all the franchises that they can come to Gaddafi Stadium to view the report. Those who have not seen the report as of yet, the doors of Gaddafi Stadium are open for them.”