Pakistan’s T20 Cricket League Moved to the UAE Amid Security Concerns
Pakistan’s T20 cricket league is set to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates, as announced by officials on Friday, following a series of Indian attacks on the nation, including a drone incursion that reached the Rawalpindi stadium.
According to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s military successfully “neutralised” 28 Indian drones, with one drone being intercepted close to the stadium on Thursday morning. Dar labeled this incident as “a deliberate attempt to target both domestic and international cricket players.”
Drone Attack Affects PSL Matches
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) would take place in the UAE, with details of the new schedule to be provided later.
This decision followed multiple discussions between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the country’s interior minister, and the franchise teams. A match that was slated for Thursday between former champions Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi stadium was postponed due to the incident involving the drone.
The league involves participation from 37 foreign players hailing from countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
International Response to Rising Tensions
Reports indicate that foreign players expressed their reluctance to remain in Pakistan following the recent violent confrontations between India and Pakistan, which have prompted international calls for calm.
On Wednesday, India conducted air strikes on Pakistan, two weeks after accusing Islamabad of supporting a terrorist attack in Kashmir, an allegation that Pakistan has denied. In turn, Pakistan’s military responded with artillery fire, and both nations have accused each other of executing drone operations throughout Thursday.
International cricket made a return to Pakistan in 2020 after a hiatus that followed the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore in 2009. In the recent PSL edition, several Australian and New Zealand players, including David Warner, had previously traveled to Pakistan with their national teams.