The Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) playoffs which was postponed earlier this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has decided to relocate the scheduled matches from Lahore to Karachi. The playoffs were postponed as cases were on the rise in Pakistan, also foreign players wanted to head back home since the international borders were getting sealed to stop the spread of the disease.
Now the Pakistan Cricket Board had to relocate the matches from Lahore to Karachi due to the smog in the city. After relocating Pakistan vs Zimbabwe matches from Lahore to Rawalpindi, they took this decision to even relocate the playoffs matches to avoid it causing any in harm to the players with regards to breathing.
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Sudden Deterioration in Air Quality Forced Us To Move the Matches Scheduled in Lahore: PCB CEO
PCB CEO Wasim said that they have been keeping a close eye on air quality since the last couple of weeks now following a sudden deterioration in the air quality. As a result, they made this decision to shift the PSL matches from Lahore to Karachi.
“We have been keeping a close eye on air quality forecasts over the last two weeks. Following the sudden deterioration in air quality and now further expected air pollution in November, we have made a swift decision to move the matches scheduled in Lahore,” said PCB CEO Wasim Khan as quoted by Cricket Pakistan website.
Wasim Khan was further quoted saying that there was a huge risk keeping the matches at Lahore with the current circumstances with the health hazards. Keep all this in mind an early decision was made to shift the matches as they would have other logistical issues to also take care of sooner or later.
“The early onset of hazardous pollution and subsequent poor air quality meant that the risk to keep matches in Lahore at this stage was too great. An early decision was made to ensure logistical challenges could be dealt with sooner rather than later. We cannot and will not compromise on the health and wellbeing of the players or officials,” he added.
The playoffs of Pakistan Super League between the four teams Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi will take place at Karachi between November 14 to November 17. The Availability of a few foreign players is still under question as they haven’t confirmed their availability.
Here is the revised schedule:
Pakistan v Zimbabwe (matches to start at 3.30 pm PST)
Sat, 7 Nov – 1st T20, Rawalpindi
Sun, 8 Nov, 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
Tues, 10 Nov – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
PSL 2020 (remaining four matches)
Sat, 14 Nov – Qualifier (Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings), (3 pm-6.30 pm), Karachi; Eliminator 1 (Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi), (8 pm-11.30 pm), Karachi
Sunday, 15 Nov – Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), (8pm-11.30pm), Karachi
Tuesday, 17 Nov – Final, (8 pm-11.30 pm), Karachi
