PSL Matches Affected By Coronavirus Pandemic
PCB(Pakistan Cricket Board) has decided to suspend the remaining matches of PSL due to the coronavirus outbreak. The two semifinals and the final have been cancelled for now.
The matches will be played on new dates but they have not been specified yet. The two semifinals were scheduled to be held on Tuesday, first one between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi and another between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars. The final was due to be played on March 18th.
The cricketing body took the decision amid fears of spreading of the coronavirus. Pakistan has been facing a rapid increase in the number of corona cases with the current count touching 184.
The tournament was already shortened before, by 4 days, as the playoffs which were supposed to be played at later dates were replaced by knockout matches to be played at earlier dates.
The final which was originally slated to take place on March 22 was shifted to March 18th. Following the emergence of the virus, many foreign players have withdrawn from the series after the league matches, and a few of the final league matches were played in empty stadiums.
IPL also faces uncertainty
The virus scare has impacted the running of many high-profile contests including the IPL. With even the PSL getting called off cricket fans would be deprived of any cricket action until at least next month.
The Indian Premier League was supposed to begin on March 29 but has been pushed to April 15th for now. But the chances of the happening of the IPL are very unlikely.
Sourav Ganguly, the president of BCCI announced that the safety of people is the highest priority and he will be examining the situation closely every week before taking the final call.
Ganguly had earlier said, “We will reassess the situation every week. We will (coordinate) with the (authorities) and workaround. “We can’t say that at the moment. As much as we want the IPL to happen, we are also careful about the security of the people. It’s too premature. Allow us a week and then we will figure out things go around in the world and decide,’
