Najam Sethi slams PCB over PSL fiasco

ISLAMABAD: Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi lashed out at the current PCB management after the ongoing edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Sethi wrote: “We — the people, media, security agencies, franchises and players — built PSL brand with sweat, blood and tears.”

“The nation is reeling with despair and outrage at criminal negligence by this PCB Admin that has disrupted the tournament!,” he added.

His statement came shortly after PCB said that it was postponing the PSL edition after three more players tested positive for the virus.

“Following a meeting with the team owners and considering that the health and wellbeing of all participants was paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 with immediate effect. The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which had started on 20 February, which had resulted in situation which had become beyond the reasonable control of all stakeholders,” it said.

The PCB, as an immediate step, will focus on the safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides, it said.

PCB chief executive Wasim Khan, Director – Commercial Babar Hamid, will hold a media conference at the National Stadium at 3pm to provide further updates.

Due to limited space in the press conference room, TV camerapersons are not allowed and the press conference will be live-streamed on the PCB YouTube Channel.