Former chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Khalid Mahmood suspects the “Indian lobby” to be behind the hurdles created by Abu Dhabi authorities in holding the remaining 20 matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, the PCB has announced that with all issues resolved, the tournament will be played in UAE capital from June 9.

Mahmood  also termed the decision of shifting the league from Pakistan to the UAE as wrong and taken in haste which, he said, has made a mockery of affairs.

Talking to Dawn, Khalid said: “As everyone knows, Indians have a grudge against Pakistan Super League (PSL) which has become very successful. They have also not invited any of the Pakistani players FOR their own Indian Premier League and since a good number of Indians are working in the UAE on key posts, there is a possibility that they were creating so many hurdle for the PCB in visa issuance, flights etc.”

“I think the PCB should have waited for the advice of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and it should not have shifted the event from Karachi to the UAE in such a haste,” observed Khalid.

He added that since the Covid-19 cases are also on decline in Pakistan, it was quite possible for the PCB to hold the event in Karachi as per administration and the PCB is looking helpless.

 “The PSL was quite possible in Karachi under the strict SOPs,” he said.
 
 “It was a big mistake on the part of the PCB to shift the event from Pakistan to UAE. … Look how big an issue it has become in UAE to issue visas to the players and officials and how much delay has happened in allowing the crew of broadcasters [from India and South Africa],” rued Khalid.

“Besides that, our players were humiliated including former captain Sarfaraz Ahmad who had to return home from Karachi airport after not getting the clearance from Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“All these things are making a mockery of the affairs and spoiling the image of PSL which has become a a very popular brand of Pakistan,” he added.

(SAM)