PSL Moved to UAE Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

PSL Shifted to UAE Due to Rising India-Pakistan Tensions; New Dates and Venues to Be Announced Soon (Image: AFP)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced that the remaining matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 will now be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

On Thursday, May 8, an emergency meeting was convened after the scheduled match between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi Stadium was postponed. Following this meeting, the PCB confirmed that the last eight fixtures, originally set to take place in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore, will now be relocated to the UAE.

The decision was driven by growing security concerns amid reports of cross-border drone strikes and artillery fire. The PCB cited these "unwanted circumstances" as posing potential risks to players, staff, and fans. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also met with foreign players during the emergency meeting held in Islamabad.

In a strong statement, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi alleged that the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was deliberately targeted in the latest Indian strike inside Pakistan, claiming the intent was to disrupt the PSL:

"...in view of the extremely irresponsible and dangerous Indian act of targeting the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was manifestly done to disrupt the ongoing Pakistan Super League X, the PCB has decided to shift the remaining matches to UAE," Naqvi claimed.

The Indian Defence Ministry, however, refuted this, stating that Thursday's operations only targeted air defence radars and systems in response to Pakistan’s attempted strikes on 15 locations across northern and western India the previous night.

The PCB has assured that new dates and venues for the remaining eight matches will be announced soon. The decision to move the league overseas, according to Naqvi, was made to address the safety concerns of both domestic and international players:

"As a responsible organisation that has overcome adversities repeatedly and ensured that the game of cricket flourishes, it was important for us to ensure the mental well-being of all players participating in the PSL," he said.

Adding to the urgency of the decision, reports from British media suggested that some English players participating in the PSL were considering withdrawing from the tournament due to growing security fears.