The seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to commence on January 27 (Thursday) with the game between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing a lot of hindrances ahead of the tournament opener. Earlier, around eight personnel including a few players tested positive for COVID-19. Then fire broke out at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday (January 26).
The board has a huge task at hands to pull off the entire season of the PSL this time around amid rising COVID cases in the country. Meanwhile, star Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has also tested positive for the virus and will be missing the action for the Quetta Gladiators to start the season with.
Cricket Pakistan confirmed the news while also stating that Afridi will have to undergo seven days of isolation now according to PCB’s protocols before joining the Quetta camp. He will also have to return a negative test before entering the bubble again.
Shahid Afridi had gone for a medical check-up
Point to be noted here is Shahid Afridi had left the bio-secure bubble after he experienced a pain in his back. He went for a medical check-up on Wednesday morning but had returned soon on the same day. This is a huge blow for the Quetta Gladiators as they will now miss the veteran for the first few matches. The team is scheduled to play its first game on Friday (January 28) against Peshawar Zalmi who are also suffering from COVID-19 cases in their camp.
Their skipper Wahab Riaz and promising batter Haider Ali contracted the virus not long ago and are likely to miss the opening game now. PCB has made arrangements for the tournament to go ahead this season despite COVID cases. Matches will go ahead as planned as long as 12 players of a team are available to play. The Big Bash League (BBL) was also played under COVID cloud this time and the final is set to be played on January 28 now.
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