Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Pakistan Super League (PSL), Pakistan’s top domestic T20 cricket tournament, will be held without spectators this season due to rising fuel prices and an ongoing energy crisis.
The decision was announced by Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He confirmed that the tournament, starting Thursday, will also not have its opening ceremony in Lahore.
According to the PCB, the move comes after a sharp increase in oil prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The situation has led to a fuel shortage in Pakistan, forcing the government to advise citizens to limit unnecessary travel.
“We cannot ask people to stay home and at the same time allow large crowds in stadiums,” Naqvi said, explaining the decision to hold matches without fans.
Initially, PSL matches were planned across six cities. However, the board has now limited the tournament to only two venues: Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Karachi. Cities like Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, and Peshawar will no longer host matches this season.
Naqvi also apologised to the affected cities, especially Peshawar, which was scheduled to host PSL games for the first time. He said the decision was taken to save resources during the crisis.
The PCB has assured fans that all ticket money will be refunded within 72 hours. Franchise owners will also receive compensation for the loss of revenue due to empty stadiums.
Before finalising the decision, Naqvi consulted Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the PCB patron, along with all eight franchises.
Meanwhile, several international players have withdrawn from the league due to personal reasons. These include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Ottneil Baartman, and Gudakesh Motie.
The PCB stated that the situation will be reviewed depending on how long the fuel crisis continues.
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