PSL 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may not be able to hold the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in the UAE as planned. A source said the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is “unlikely to approve” the request due to rising India-Pakistan Tensions
UAE May Reject PCB’s Request To Host Remaining PSL 2025 Matches
Though the PCB announced the games would be moved to the UAE, the ECB is expected to reject the request over “security concerns potentially emanating from the rising tension between India and Pakistan.” The ECB is also “wary of being perceived as an ally of PCB” and believes hosting the PSL 2025 could create that impression.
Advertisement
The matches were originally scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore.
ECB Wary of Perception as PCB Ally Amid Regional Conflict
A source close to the ECB explained that the board is “unlikely to approve” the request because of security concerns related to the growing conflict between India and Pakistan. They added that the ECB is being cautious and doesn’t want to be seen as taking sides. Hosting the PSL might make them “wary of being perceived as an ally of PCB.”
Advertisement
The source also said, “The Emirates Cricket Board has enjoyed a strong relationship with BCCI in recent years having hosted the ‘India’ edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, editions of the IPL as well as India matches during ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”
They noted that Dubai is home to the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters, and that the current ICC chairman is former BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
The source warned that hosting the PSL 2025 now could be risky: “The UAE has a diverse South Asian population which enjoys cricket. Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks and stir unnecessary friction between communities.”
PCB Cancels Rawalpindi Match Amid Growing Security Concerns
The PCB said that the match schedule, with dates and venues, will be shared later.
On Thursday, the PCB canceled a match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings that was supposed to take place in Rawalpindi.
This all comes after India carried out missile strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, two weeks after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people.
ALSO READ: South Africa and Australia Address Player Safety Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Advertisement
