Coronavirus outbreak: No PSL players, support staff exposed with COVID-19
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that the results of COVID-19 test, conducted on 128 players PSL members, have turned out to be negative. Pakistan Super League's players, support staff, match officials, broadcasters and team owners underwent the test, that was conducted on March 17. Furthermore, Mutan Sultans also conducted 17 tests on Monday, which turned out to be negative.
PCB postponed the knockouts of PSL 2020
The knockout games of Pakistan Super League 2020 were deferred until further notice in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The two semi-finals and a final, which had to be held on March 17 and 18 respectively, will be rescheduled to a later date. Earlier, PCB decided to cut-short the remaining season due to the dire crisis around the world.
The test was important for credibility of PSL: Wasim Khan
"It was absolutely critical for the integrity and credibility of PSL and PCB that all players, support personnel, broadcasters and match officials, those who had decided to stay back till the end of the tournament, tested negative for COVID-19," PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said.
The overseas players left the PSL midway
Earlier, over a dozen foreign players left the tournament midway in order to contain the spread of coronavirus. The board, however, allowed the franchises to replace them with local players. After the pandemic, it was decided that the remaining matches will be played behind closed doors. Besides, all the 25 remaining overseas players, support staff and match officials have now departed.
PSL was mowed down by four days
The PCB held PSL matches after seeking permission from the government even as the cases of coronavirus surged in Pakistan. Earlier, the playoffs were to be played from March 17 to March 22 with the first match in Karachi and the remaining three in Lahore. The conventional semi-finals then replaced the playoffs. Both the semis were rescheduled in Lahore on March 17.
