PSL 2026 to be played behind closed doors amid fuel crisis; Lahore and Karachi to host all games

[Savak]

Hundred is in August plus CPL and SL t20 is not big of issue...easily can outbid them....

Vitality Blast, MLC T20 takes place in the Summers.

There are other problems as well. Who will watch the games in the stadium from 10-11 pm at night to 4-5 am in the morning day in day out on a working day? I bet even television viewership will suffer. Also it is hot and humid in Pakistan at that time period, there is no guarantee it will be pleasant at night to play cricket.

 

[Kianig89]

The more we see these type of situations , the more the need of visionary Imran Khan is felt, clearly the decision to have war with AFG will have long term implications.

Bit off topic but if we jump into Iran War, then Pakistan will be a complete war-zone ,

 

[Ryw]

There was a serious threat, they should have moved out maybe in South africa, or postponed it, badly managed.

 

[Josh]

How is local match day economic activity in Pakistan? Only two locations to manage, could have allowed limited spectators

 

[cricketjoshila]

As per Indian media:

The 2026 Pakistan Super League faces a significant crisis as overseas players demand "risk premium" salary hikes due to regional instability and venue reductions in Karachi and Lahore. Despite these pressures, the PCB is maintaining a strict "no salary hike" policy and considering punitive measures, including potential two-to-three-year bans and ICC intervention, for players who breach contracts to join the IPL. While the board remains focused on hosting the tournament on schedule, it faces an uphill battle as top international talent increasingly favors the financial security and stability offered by the Indian league.

What will icc do?

 

[cricketjoshila]

A Govinda, Rahul and Rajdeep sitting in Hindustan think it’s because of security reasons.

Obviously nothing to do with the major ongoing war which has led to school closures, global fuel emergency, fuel prices doubled, most flights through which foreign players were gonna come cancelled and obviously players not willing to come close to Iran.

But nah, these Rahuls and Govindas know better.

How will not having spectators in psL matches change the war situation?

 

[sithb]

It only takes one suicide bomber throwing himself at a security cordon to keep cricketers at risk.

Maybe the request for no crowds came from the international cricketers themselves.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Bangladesh Cricket Board Takes Massive Call On Players' Participation In PSL Amid Conflict In Pakistan

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) granted clearance to their players for participation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 on Monday. The PSL is set to begin on 26 March, with the final on 3 May. "Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that it has maintained close coordination with the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh regarding the participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament", BCB said in a statement. "Following consultations, it has been confirmed that there are no prevailing security or safety concerns for the players selected to represent various franchises in the competition. This conclusion has been reached based on assurances received from the Bangladesh Mission in Islamabad", it added.

"With these assurances in place, the players have travelled to Pakistan for the tournament", the statement said.

"The BCB reiterates that the well-being of its players remains its foremost priority. The Board will continue to remain in close contact with all concerned parties", it said.

PSL 2026 will be held without spectators due to the ongoing West Asia crisis. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has stated that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has requested all of Pakistan to "restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis."

The tournament has also been reduced from six venues to just two, with all matches now scheduled in Lahore and Karachi. Additionally, the opening ceremony in Lahore has also been called off.

Mustafizur Rahman and Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim (Peshawar Zalmi), and Rishad Hossain (Rawalpindi Pindiz) had earlier been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked by franchises for the tournament, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.

https://sports.ndtv.com/pakistan-super-league/bangladesh-cricket-board-takes-massive-call-on-players-participation-in-psl-amid-conflict-in-pakistan-11255881

 

[Savak]

Bangladesh Cricket Board Takes Massive Call On Players' Participation In PSL Amid Conflict In Pakistan

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) granted clearance to their players for participation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 on Monday. The PSL is set to begin on 26 March, with the final on 3 May. "Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that it has maintained close coordination with the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh regarding the participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament", BCB said in a statement. "Following consultations, it has been confirmed that there are no prevailing security or safety concerns for the players selected to represent various franchises in the competition. This conclusion has been reached based on assurances received from the Bangladesh Mission in Islamabad", it added.

"With these assurances in place, the players have travelled to Pakistan for the tournament", the statement said.

"The BCB reiterates that the well-being of its players remains its foremost priority. The Board will continue to remain in close contact with all concerned parties", it said.

PSL 2026 will be held without spectators due to the ongoing West Asia crisis. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has stated that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has requested all of Pakistan to "restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis."

The tournament has also been reduced from six venues to just two, with all matches now scheduled in Lahore and Karachi. Additionally, the opening ceremony in Lahore has also been called off.

Mustafizur Rahman and Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim (Peshawar Zalmi), and Rishad Hossain (Rawalpindi Pindiz) had earlier been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked by franchises for the tournament, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.

https://sports.ndtv.com/pakistan-super-league/bangladesh-cricket-board-takes-massive-call-on-players-participation-in-psl-amid-conflict-in-pakistan-11255881

Fine don't allow spectators for the first few weeks but opening ceremony to rakh le te.

 

[moghul]

Jind Jaan Asim and his servants like mohsin naqvi will destroy PCB to its core.
We are doomed and nearly becoming a same system as of hockey in pakistan

Hockey still has some chances of survival as its not yet infested with Naqvi, but not cricket , Naqvi is a bad disease and is life threatening.

 

[m.shah]

Apparently TTP has threatened Foreign Players

 

[Hitman]

Pakistani militant group issues threat to PSL; foreign players, boards warned​

 

[RyanRyan10]

On the other thread, he was claiming 70% overseas players had left. I asked him to provide the list and he couldn't reply.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Pakistani militant group issues threat to PSL; foreign players, boards warned​

View attachment 163042

So there's certain security issue. PCB & Naqvi have been lying all along.

 

[adi_62941]

Naqvi and others are playing with the security and well being of international cricketers. Just postpone the event otherwise if god forbids, anything happens, then pakistan cricket cannot take another hit of absense of international cricket in home grounds. Already we are 20 years late in home cricket as compared to other nations