Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has announced that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will continue uninterrupted, saying franchises, security agencies, and the provincial government have mutually decided to go with the current PSL 8 edition in Karachi according to the schedule.
While talking to journalists, Sethi admitted that continuing the PSL on home soil was a "challenge." After the attack on the office of the Karachi police chief on Friday night, there had been concerns raised over the status of the PSL 8 matches scheduled in Karachi, he added.
However, the PCB convened an urgent meeting to which franchise representatives were invited. In the meeting, PCB took franchisees' concerns into confidence after consulting with security agencies and the provincial government. They all decided to go with the current PSL edition in Karachi, according to the schedule.
Moreover, Sethi told journalists: "For security, the Punjab government handed us a bill for Rs800 million, whereas the bill for Karachi was Rs400. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah agreed to waive the fee in response to our appeal. The Punjab government also opted against charging us for security when I explained this to them."
He said the Women's League is a component of the PCB's strategy to reinvigorate women's cricket in the country, adding that India's announcement of their women's league occurred immediately after Pakistan's announcement of the same.
Sethi said that the PCB will hold three exhibition matches for women as a lead-up to the Women's League while the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is still in progress.
"The IPL and India established their own women's league as soon as we introduced the women's league. We're starting a women's league this year. In this PSL, there are a few women's matches as well," he added.
Sethi also lavished praise on Pakistani women's wicketkeeper-batsman Muneeba Ali for "hitting a wonderful century" against Ireland in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup 2023 in South Africa.
Sethi further disclosed that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had urged him to restore departmental cricket.
While talking to journalists, Sethi admitted that continuing the PSL on home soil was a "challenge." After the attack on the office of the Karachi police chief on Friday night, there had been concerns raised over the status of the PSL 8 matches scheduled in Karachi, he added.
However, the PCB convened an urgent meeting to which franchise representatives were invited. In the meeting, PCB took franchisees' concerns into confidence after consulting with security agencies and the provincial government. They all decided to go with the current PSL edition in Karachi, according to the schedule.
Moreover, Sethi told journalists: "For security, the Punjab government handed us a bill for Rs800 million, whereas the bill for Karachi was Rs400. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah agreed to waive the fee in response to our appeal. The Punjab government also opted against charging us for security when I explained this to them."
He said the Women's League is a component of the PCB's strategy to reinvigorate women's cricket in the country, adding that India's announcement of their women's league occurred immediately after Pakistan's announcement of the same.
Sethi said that the PCB will hold three exhibition matches for women as a lead-up to the Women's League while the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is still in progress.
"The IPL and India established their own women's league as soon as we introduced the women's league. We're starting a women's league this year. In this PSL, there are a few women's matches as well," he added.
Sethi also lavished praise on Pakistani women's wicketkeeper-batsman Muneeba Ali for "hitting a wonderful century" against Ireland in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup 2023 in South Africa.
Sethi further disclosed that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had urged him to restore departmental cricket.