PSL 2021 Revised Schedule: Dates, Match Timings, Venues, Live Streaming and all you need to know

After truckloads of logistical and operational hindrances, the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League is finally set to resume from June 9, with the final to be played on June 24 in the UAE. Only 14 fixtures of the total 34 were completed earlier this year before Covid-19 played spoilsport. Multiple bio-bubble breaches and Covid cases reported inside the bio-secure environment forced the authorities to halt the proceedings midway.

Even though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was hoping to pull off the curtailed event in Karachi, the original venue, all six PSL franchises expressed concerns in a collective letter to the board, urging to take the tournament in the UAE keeping the health and security of all the stakeholders in mind.

Honouring the request, PCB got in touch with the Emirates Cricket Board, which went ahead with a conditional approval – getting all players, support staff and broadcast members vaccinated before they land in UAE.

Later, issues related to visas and clearances left as many as 13 players in limbo, who failed to board the flight to Abu Dhabi via Karachi. While the issue sorted out gradually, the delayed arrival forced the management to readjust the schedule due to the mandatory quarantine protocols set by the emirates’ government for all players and staff. The PCB, which was initially confident to start the edition on June 1, faced multiple delays due to different reasons and nearly postponed the tournament before finally managing to lock June 9 for resumption.

A week’s delay has, however, created a time-crunch and there will be as many as six double-headers – five in the resumed league stage, while the final one being the staging of Qualifier and Eliminator 1, set for June 21 – when the league resumes. The remainder of the league games will be conducted between June 9 to 19, the second Eliminator on June 22, followed by the final.

Pakistan is set to travel to England for three ODIs and as many T20Is, to be played between July 8-20. The England and Wales Cricket Board adjusted with PCB regarding the visitors’ arrival – originally set on June 23; changed to June 25 – to make space for PSL 2021.

This is the second time in a row that the tournament has been disrupted due to the pandemic after last year’s Playoffs were conducted in November 2020 due to a sudden halt in March.

PSL 2021 Points Table at the time of season suspension

PSL 2021 Revised schedule