Will COVID-19 effect PSL 6?

[MenInG]

A player and an official of one of the teams taking part in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 have been placed in a three-day quarantine after they came into contact with a person outside the bio-secure bubble on Friday.

The two individuals will now require two negative tests during the three-day quarantine period before they can re-enter the bio-secure bubble in accordance with the re-entry protocols.

“The PCB is disappointed that two members of one of the sides showed carelessness and violated the bio-secure bubble protocols by coming into a contact with a person who was not part of the bubble.

“As reiterated previously, the health and safety of all individuals associated with HBL Pakistan Super League 6 is of paramount importance to the PCB and the event. All players, player support personnel, match officials and family members are once again reminded to diligently follow the PCB Covid-19 Protocols as the PCB will not allow anyone to affect the integrity and credibility of the tournament,” the PCB said.

Separately, a player from another franchise team who had shown symptoms and was in isolation, has tested positive. He will now remain in quarantine for 10 days and will require two negative tests in order to integrate again with the side in accordance with the applicable re-entry protocols.

 

[Hasan123]

This is not good news. You can hate on the BCCI all you want, but the IPL in UAE did not have any of these issues. Hopefully there aren’t any more cases . The world will be watching, we have just seen Australia pull out of the series against South Africa due to worries about Covid-19 in the country. If the PSL has more issues like this , countries may pull out of series against Pakistan due to situations like this. PCB and PSL management really need to ensure this is contained and a one off.

 

[UzmanBeast]

This is not good news. You can hate on the BCCI all you want, but the IPL in UAE did not have any of these issues. Hopefully there aren’t any more cases . The world will be watching, we have just seen Australia pull out of the series against South Africa due to worries about Covid-19 in the country. If the PSL has more issues like this , countries may pull out of series against Pakistan due to situations like this. PCB and PSL management really need to ensure this is contained and a one off.

Agreed, there is not much happening in the cricketing fraternity at the moment and this news will spread quickly if it happens again.

Players, coaching staff, and support staff need to keep their minds sharp and avoid such activities. PCB should create a punishment for any breaches, possibly fining franchises if they have members who have broken the bubble, or by removing those who breached the bubble.

Any carelessness at an event like this will lead to international players pulling out and the tournament being postponed. We're trying to create a better image and reputation of the league, the PCB needs to wake up and make sure that this doesn't happen again.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Managing the 6-7k crowds in the two grounds is going to be the make or break for them.

Protocols or SOPs aren't followed anywhere in Pakistan by what you get to see on TV in news as nobody seems to be wearing a mask or observing social distancing etc;

How this all goes is going to be the main deal here after what has happened today.

 

[Saj]

People not following the rules despite all the warnings. How stupid can they be.

Not a good start.

 

[Savak]

Missing the days of the normal life. Man, how much we took it all for granted, the feeling of stepping out of your house and going wherever you wanted without any fear

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

People not following the rules despite all the warnings. How stupid can they be.

Not a good start.

Any information on who these idiots are?

 

[Arsal_AK]

Managing the 6-7k crowds in the two grounds is going to be the make or break for them.

Protocols or SOPs aren't followed anywhere in Pakistan by what you get to see on TV in news as nobody seems to be wearing a mask or observing social distancing etc;

How this all goes is going to be the main deal here after what has happened today.

This is a horrible decision. We aren't testing enough to be really sure that the numbers are accurate. And even taking them to be accurate there is community spread across Pakistan. How they are going to make sure that nobody in the ground has covid is beyond me. Temperature/symptom checks don't work, you could be pre symptomatic and still be infectious. Plus people can easily lie. This is a superspreading disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Belawal2014]

PCB should name and shame them so that further transgressions may be avoided.

 

[Saj]

Any information on who these idiots are?

No names have been disclosed as yet.

 

[Hasan123]

Agreed, there is not much happening in the cricketing fraternity at the moment and this news will spread quickly if it happens again.

Players, coaching staff, and support staff need to keep their minds sharp and avoid such activities. PCB should create a punishment for any breaches, possibly fining franchises if they have members who have broken the bubble, or by removing those who breached the bubble.

Any carelessness at an event like this will lead to international players pulling out and the tournament being postponed. We're trying to create a better image and reputation of the league, the PCB needs to wake up and make sure that this doesn't happen again.

Don't forget how PCB handled the situation before the NZ tour where players tested positive as well. They need to be careful.

 

[MenInG]

Media reports say:

1. Wahab Riaz and Head Coach Darren Sammy are in isolation after they broke COVID-19 protocols,

2. Wahab and Sammy met the team owner (Javed Afridi) during its practice session on Friday evening in breach of protocol

 

[Hasan123]

Media reports say:

1. Wahab Riaz and Head Coach Darren Sammy are in isolation after they broke COVID-19 protocols,

2. Wahab and Sammy met the team owner (Javed Afridi) during its practice session on Friday evening in breach of protocol

Ridiculous. If this was an England or India player I promise you this thread would have more 12 posts. Obviously it involves a Pakistan player and Pakistani favourite so the majority will bury there head in the sands.

 

[Saj]

Seems Wahab and Darren got a bit excited when they saw Javed Afridi at a practice session and forgot that he wasn't part of their bubble.

 

[Sohaib]

Seems Wahab and Darren got a bit excited when they saw Javed Afridi at a practice session and forgot that he wasn't part of their bubble.

PCB should fine very heavy Darren Sammy and Wahab Riaz, and give a ban of 5 to 6 matches to Riaz. Give out a clear warning once again. Placing them in quarantine for 3 days isn't enough.


Don't let the team owners anywhere in the same vicinity as team management, players and officials.



PCB should also take up some of the blame instead of showing their 'disappointment' to the players. If this continues, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that PSL might get cancelled altogether in less than 10 days.

 

[pakistani pride]

All this bubble non sense.
I mean wake up people, how long you want to continue with this farce?

 

[Savak]

Seems Wahab and Darren got a bit excited when they saw Javed Afridi at a practice session and forgot that he wasn't part of their bubble.

Team Owners should be allowed to meet their players. Javed Afridi should have been part of the bubble

 

[MenInG]

Wahab and Sammy allowed to join their side after apology

 

[SM1989]

Wahab and Sammy allowed to join their side after apology

Apparently Peshawar Zalmi threatened to boycott the match so PCB had to cave in. Thug mentality by the franchises. There can be no progress as long as such disregard for the rules exists.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...d-for-qalandars-clash-after-successful-appeal

 

[Last Monetarist]

This breach by Zalmi is an utter embarrassment for the PCB. They should really be docked a couple of points as a penalty.

 

[MenInG]

So Fawad Ahmed was playing for Islamabad the other night and has Covid-19

How did that happen?

Who infected him if he was in a bubble?

IU players have been tested and negative but could well test positive in a few days

 

[pakistani pride]

So Fawad Ahmed was playing for Islamabad the other night and has Covid-19

How did that happen?

Who infected him if he was in a bubble?

IU players have been tested and negative but could well test positive in a few days

What if this is a case of false negative?

 

[Last Monetarist]

I'd reschedule today's match to one of the rest days, not worth the risk.

 

[Indiafan]

So Fawad Ahmed was playing for Islamabad the other night and has Covid-19

How did that happen?

Who infected him if he was in a bubble?

IU players have been tested and negative but could well test positive in a few days

Wasnt there a match where some TV actors (web series), were saying they high-fived the players?

 

[world cup captain]

Wasnt there a match where some TV actors (web series), were saying they high-fived the players?

The tournament isn't actually occurring in a bubble. It's a complete mockery and the players don't have the stones to speak up. The presenters go around talking to actors who are too entitled to wear masks and then meet with up with players. To make matters worse, PCB will now allow 50% capacity soon which will most likely halt the tournament.

 

[Sohaib]

As said before, the team owners shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the players. PCB needs to make a strong statement, saying either we go ahead with the rest of the tournament without any celebrity and/or team owners near the team and team management, and if they threaten to pull away then there will be no further tournament.


As for allowing the crowd, have them spaced out through the enclosures with masks on. And have rangers/police(including lady security personnel) present their itself and anyone taking their masks off other than drinking water, should be fined and booted right away. Be it 50%, 40% or 30% crowd. What kind of rock science is needed for simple yet effective measure?!

 

[alirabbi1129]

As per reports, Fawad Ahmed developed symptoms a couple of days back after which he tested positive.

 

[adil79]

The lack of mask wearing by crowd, lack of social distancing in crowd, the whole precautions even biosecure bubble was a joke. Now its time for corona to play joke. The shaveer of Peshawar Zalmi high fived with the players. Its a biolol bubble instead of secure

 

[pakistani pride]

The lack of mask wearing by crowd, lack of social distancing in crowd, the whole precautions even biosecure bubble was a joke. Now its time for corona to play joke. The shaveer of Peshawar Zalmi high fived with the players. Its a biolol bubble instead of secure

and what exactly do face(mask) actual help for? What kind of masks does one need to really be secure?

 

[Indiafan]

and what exactly do face(mask) actual help for? What kind of masks does one need to really be secure?

Multiple studies have shown masks help both wearer and others. At this point arguing against masks is the worst kind of ignorance, on par with flat earthers. Heck there were many studies where saloon owners, restaurant owners etc didn't spread to a single customer despite having COVID, because they wore masks

 

[hitthestump]

The lack of mask wearing by crowd, lack of social distancing in crowd, the whole precautions even biosecure bubble was a joke. Now its time for corona to play joke. The shaveer of Peshawar Zalmi high fived with the players. Its a biolol bubble instead of secure

The arrogance in the face of COVID has been absolutely staggering. This is a country that lost decades of international cricket at home due to easily avoided incompetence of the highest level. You'd think we'd learn a few lessons by now but that's easier said than done apparently.

Pakistan will now have to play catch up and face the humiliation of backpedalling ferociously in order to save the PSL from cancellation.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Test results of both Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United squads have come back negative with their match now rescheduled for Tuesday, 2 March, at 7pm PKT <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IUvQG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IUvQG</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1366407657918201856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Line and Length]

COVID is affecting every ongoing sporting tournament, including major European football leagues. But like some posters have mentioned above, PCB is completely turning a blind eye to multiple violations, and making a joke out of any sort of bio secure bubble.
If this continues this way, we’ll probably see a lot more cases, or worse, cancellation or indefinite postponement of the tournament. They need to get more serious now.

 

[Titan24]

Good call to move the match to tomorrow which was a scheduled rest day. Its good that they isolated the player straight away two days ago when he developed symptoms and now as the tests were being conducted today delaying the match impacting the preparation, they have moved it to tomorrow.

This PSL has rest days scheduled for every week and that was s pretty decent move considering the pandemic and such potential scenarios.

 

[Hasan123]

This is not very good from the PCB. We already had the Wahab and Sammy issue. Now Fawad has tested positive. Clearly he has come into contact with someone who is not in the PSL bubble.

PCB need to remember we have some home tours coming up. If we can't stop things like this, don't be surprised if teams pull out of our tours against Pakistan. Our fans will act like victims. But boards around the world will use this as a reason not to tour.

PCB need to keep the players and staff in a bubble, anyone not apart of this bubble needs to approach with a face mask and social distancing as much as possible.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is not very good from the PCB. We already had the Wahab and Sammy issue. Now Fawad has tested positive. Clearly he has come into contact with someone who is not in the PSL bubble.

PCB need to remember we have some home tours coming up. If we can't stop things like this, don't be surprised if teams pull out of our tours against Pakistan. Our fans will act like victims. But boards around the world will use this as a reason not to tour.

PCB need to keep the players and staff in a bubble, anyone not apart of this bubble needs to approach with a face mask and social distancing as much as possible.

These sort of things are happening in European football leagues as well, only thing you can do is respond professionally and try to close any loops. PCB and Pakistan fans aren't the only ones who have to adjust and deal with the fallout.

 

[adil79]

The incubation time of covid is more than 1 day. The delay of 1 day won't change anything. It will result in more cases down the road which will affect international opinion and perception of our facilities and seriousness towards pandemic. Ideally, all matches should be postponed by a week. Need to think this through instead of rushing it. Fawad must have been in contact with so many other players during handshakes and what not post match. So, there will definitely be a cluster.

 

[adil79]

The arrogance in the face of COVID has been absolutely staggering. This is a country that lost decades of international cricket at home due to easily avoided incompetence of the highest level. You'd think we'd learn a few lessons by now but that's easier said than done apparently.

Pakistan will now have to play catch up and face the humiliation of backpedalling ferociously in order to save the PSL from cancellation.

Spot on, mate. We just cant afford any set backs. The world already has a low opinion of us for obvious reasons. Need a professional response from pcb based on science and facts instead of sentiments.

 

[Hasan123]

These sort of things are happening in European football leagues as well, only thing you can do is respond professionally and try to close any loops. PCB and Pakistan fans aren't the only ones who have to adjust and deal with the fallout.

Those European leagues are taking extreme measures. Don’t think the PCB is following such measures.

 

[MenInG]

PCB walking a tight rope here. Really need to be careful or PSL could suffer huge damage.

 

[MenInG]

According to a media report:

Some cricketers’ families have been allowed to join without quarantine.
Food is also being ordered from outside.
The ground staff, hotel staff is also not in bio-bubble either

No wonder.

 

[MenInG]

According to a media report:

Some cricketers’ families have been allowed to join without quarantine.
Food is also being ordered from outside.
The ground staff, hotel staff is also not in bio-bubble either

No wonder.

And some more media reports

Players were dedicated two lifts at their hotel but they ended up also using stairs, which were not part of the bio-secure bubble

A couple of franchises key officials had already informed PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan that such breaches were taking place and that SOPs should be strictly implemented.

Every franchise had been assigned a physiotherapist with the purpose of regularly checking the temperatures of players. However, the practice was reportedly never enforced.

 

[Savak]

According to a media report:

Some cricketers’ families have been allowed to join without quarantine.
Food is also being ordered from outside.
The ground staff, hotel staff is also not in bio-bubble either

No wonder.

You need to allow some level of normalcy for players otherwise no one will play cricket in a jailhouse type environment.

 

[JattMaula]

And some more media reports

Players were dedicated two lifts at their hotel but they ended up also using stairs, which were not part of the bio-secure bubble

A couple of franchises key officials had already informed PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan that such breaches were taking place and that SOPs should be strictly implemented.

Every franchise had been assigned a physiotherapist with the purpose of regularly checking the temperatures of players. However, the practice was reportedly never enforced.

Regularly checking temperature?
What will it achieve? A symptomatic covid carrier has already contaminated the bio secure bubble. Not that there is a real bubble in PSL. They should have had regular covid tests before this incident.

 

[Indiafan]

You need to allow some level of normalcy for players otherwise no one will play cricket in a jailhouse type environment.

Then they should not play cricket (and this applies to all leagues and international matches). many essential services are still stopped or impacted because of COVID. Still being able to play cricket and earn millions is a blessing

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering an option to shift Lahore-leg matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6 at National Stadium due to COVID-19 risk.

According to reports, PCB has suggested all stakeholders including franchise owners to shift Lahore matches to Karachi after three cricketers and a staff member tested COVID-19 positive.

As per the PCB’s spokesperson, all members of the bio-secure bubble will undergo COVID-19 testing tomorrow. After the results, PCB will take any decision in this regard.

It must be noted here that Karachi is scheduled to host 20 PSL 6 matches till March 7. The remaining 14 matches including Playoffs and final will be played in Lahore.


ARY

 

[SensiblePakFan]

People here overeact to everything, this is nothing new. Remember how the New Zealand series went.