The hugely successful and entertaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) extravaganza has come to an abrupt halt amid the growing threat of coronavirus, leaving millions of fans disappointed.
The entertaining league has been delayed “with immediate effect” after seven people participating in the tournament had tested positive for COVID-19. In total, six players and one support staffer have tested positive in the last three days.
The pandemic, though, is threatening to spoil all that. Let’s take an in-depth review of the postponement of the PSL and the bio-secure bubble breach by the cricketers.
What happened?
Addressing a press conference, PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said today was a “very challenging day” for the PCB, stakeholders, and fans of cricket. He said the SOPs for PSL 6 were decided after the successful staging of two Test series, a national T20 tournament, as well as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The PCB official confirmed that three additional players from two different teams had tested positive for the coronavirus, adding they will now undergo self-isolation for 10 days.
The players had been tested in the afternoon after they showed symptoms, according to the statement. They had not been part of the sides that played in yesterday’s PSL 6 double-header that featured Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans.
PCB’s failure?
Just after the tournament started, Peshawar Zalmi’s captain Wahab Riaz and head coach Darren Sammy were barred from coming to the ground after they breached COVID-19 SOP’s.
Sources have informed that the two cricketers met Javed Afridi, the owner of the team, who was not part of the bio-secure bubble.
Wahab and Sammy were directed to isolate for at least three days and had to return two negative tests before joining the team. However, the PCB later cleared both Wahab and Sammy to join the team and participate in the match against Lahore Qalandars.
According to PCB’s statement on February 1,“Appeal on a player and official guilty of breaching bio-secure bubble on Friday, has been accepted. The two have been allowed to integrate with the side.”
The relief given to Peshawar sent a wrong message to the other franchises and the organisers as they started taking COVID-19 protocols lightly.
Players’ irresponsible attitude
Several media outlets have reported that families of players entered the bubble without properly following the protocols. According to the PCB’s guidelines, all family members had to show their negative reports before entering the bubble but it seems like these weren’t followed.
While the PCB management is partially responsible for this laxity, but players can’t be exempted from the blame. The players themselves put their own health and tournament in jeopardy by reportedly mingling with individuals who were not part of the biosecure bubble.
It must be remembered this is not the first time the PCB has been accused of being lax in the COVID-19 precautions. During Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand several cases were also reported in the team.
What’s next?
With every season, the league has become bigger and better, attracting leading players from hosts Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, England, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and other nations besides luring in top sponsors, broadcasters and, most important, the fans.
In this regard, the Pakistan Cricket Board has to take immediate action against the cricketers for breaching the standard COVID-19 protocols, and a clear policy should be adopted in which no relief should be given to any individual.
