PSL 2022: Overseas players unhappy with strict bio-bubble protocols

Strict bio-bubble protocols set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) are taking a heavy toll on the players involved in the tournament.  As a result, Islamabad United’s Alex Hales and Quetta Gladiators’ Ben Duckett have already pulled out of the remaining part of the tournament.

Not only foreign players, but several Pakistani players have also expressed their disappointment as they are confined to the hotel and stadium and families are also not allowed to stay with them. Players have asked the managing committee to provide some more facilities in an open-air environment.

Some strict regulations have been put in place by PCB as the board faced financial loss amid postponements in the last two editions of the league due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to PCB, the entire hotel had been booked in Karachi while a separate wing of the hotel in Lahore is reserved for PSL.

Players are getting proper facilities in the managed environment: PCB Director Media

Speaking to a daily Urdu Newspaper media director Samiul Hasan Burney said, “This environment has been planned to keep individuals safe from the virus and also to keep league’s reputation and integrity high. “PCB has provided various outdoor games for the players at National High-Performance Center (NHPC) and Barbecue facilities have also been provided to them. Teams have provided outdoor activities to its players and PCB is also helping them with the facilities in this regard.”

The 2022 edition of the (PSL) started on January 27 with a clash between defending champions Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings in Karachi. The tournament is now in its second leg with nine more matches left to be played excluding the qualifiers, eliminator, and final. All the matches are being played in Karachi National Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

At present, Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars are sitting comfortably on top of the table, while Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi are in third and fourth place respectively. Much to a surprise, Karachi Kings led by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is yet to win a single match in the tournament.