PCB will incur losses of Rs.100 million with closed-door matches of the Pakistan Super League in Karachi. In its latest coronavirus alert, the Sindh government had announced to conduct PSL matches with no audience in the stadium to control the spread of the epidemic in the city.
Pakistan Cricket Board is set to incur losses of at least 100 million PKR following the decision to hold PSL’s Karachi games behind closed doors.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) March 13, 2020
According to the reports, PCB was estimated to earn a humungous profit of Rs.10 million through the sales of the tickets, hosting the event and brand activation. Now, PCB is deprived of this huge chunk of profit after the Sindh government alerted the sports board and requested to conduct the matches in empty stadiums.
Under the changed circumstances, the remaining three pool matches and a play-off will be played in Karachi’s National Stadium as per schedule but with no spectators.
Sindh Government has taken this decision after confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan reached 21 out of which 15 were reported in Sindh.
“Following developments in the past 24 hours, the (Pakistan Cricket Board) has decided to take a proactive approach and put in place precautionary measures to better safeguard the health and safety of all those who will be involved in the upcoming matches,” said the governing body’s chief executive Wasim Khan.
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Moreover, PCB has also allowed foreign players to return home amid the PSL if they wish, to avoid being stranded in Pakistan in case of a probable travel suspension to and from their countries.
A major reason behind players’ decision to fly back is the fact that they don’t want to be stranded due to possible flight suspension to/from their countries. https://t.co/D9wx6QtNHj
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) March 13, 2020
As per the latest reports, these foreign players will no longer play the remaining matches of PSL: Alex Hales (Karachi Kings); Rossouw & James Vince (Multan Sultans), Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, James Foster (coach), Lewis Gregory & Liam Livingstone(Peshawar Zalmi); Jason Roy & Tymal Mills (Quetta Gladiators).
Social media users in Pakistan had earlier voiced concerns after authorities appeared set on continuing to host the Karachi matches despite a rise in coronavirus cases. Now, they have hailed the decision of the Sindh Government for conducting the PSL matches in an empty stadium.