In a massive blow to Pakistan, the PCB’s plans to stage the remaining Pakistan Super League matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to take a hit as the Emirates Cricket Board is “unlikely to approve” the request because of the escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan.
A source in the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has hinted that the Emirati Board is likely to reject the request from the Pakistan Cricket Board, which, on Thursday, announced that the PSL would be held in the UAE in the wake of multiple drone attacks by India in Pakistani cities.
The source has cited “security concerns” as the primary reason for the potential rejection of PCB’s request.
It is believed that the recent developments have made the Emirates Cricket Board “wary of being considered as an ally of PCB”, which, they think, will give a clear indication if the Board hosts IPL matches.
UAE doesn’t want to spoil relations with BCCI
“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 the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the source told PTI.
Moreover, Dubai is also the headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC), headed by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
“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,” the source said.
The PCB had announced that the last eight PSL fixtures, scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore, will now be staged in the UAE.
On Thursday, the scheduled match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings was cancelled at the Rawalpindi stadium, which was partially damaged from drone attacks by India.
India carried out missile attacks on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost.
Pakistan, on Thursday night, launched multiple air attacks on several Indian cities, but India’s defence system foiled all the attacks.
The air attacks forced the abandonment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.
On Friday, the BCCI suspended the tournament for a week.
The Emirates Cricket Board is set to decline Pakistan Cricket Board’s request to stage PSL matches in UAE owing to security concerns. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
