Sports

‘PSL 2021 to continue as per schedule’

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) will go ahead as per schedule amid false reports that the league could be postponed for a few days due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Islamabad United camp. It also said that the stadiums will see 50 percent crowds until March 16.

Director Media and Communications at PCB Samiul Hasan Burney announced the news at a press conference and revealed that three out of the 244 PCR tests conducted returned positive.

244 PCR tests conducted, three tests positive, all three isolated.

Media Conference: https://t.co/c1fFeZeMlk #HBLPSL6
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 2, 2021

Two of the three infected personnel were foreign players, including Islamabad United’s Fawad Ahmed, whose positive test was made public on Monday and led to the rescheduling of Islamabad, Quetta fixture.

“We conducted 244 PCR tests, in addition to the rapid tests conducted,” said Burney. “Of the 244 tests, three have come back positive. Two foreign players and one support staff have tested positive.”

While the identity of the other foreign player has not yet been disclosed, journalist Abdul Ghaffar has said that the third person is a member of the support staff.

BREAKING NEWS: QGvIU will play as per schedule, PCB

244 PCR Test of players officials

3 Positive
2 foreign players
1 local official
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) March 2, 2021

Meanwhile, sports journalists and analysts are urging the board and public not to panic, highlighting that such incidents are common in events of such scale.

Player/official testing positive has been a routine in international events… Australian open tennis, English premier league, German league.. so nothing to worry… @OfficialPSL will go on… things will be normal …
— Shahid Hashmi (@hashmi_shahid) March 1, 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading voice and expert on Covid, said last year – while talking about NFL – that if there is one positive case in a sporting event then you can get away with it and such a situation is manageable. No need to create panic.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 1, 2021

Exactly. Anyone who follows the ATP/WTA Tours would know how common it has been for players to test positive before and during tournaments ever since the Tour has resumed. It's going to be normal now and should be treated as such. https://t.co/G2IObmxwC9
— Saba S. Sheikh (@sabassheikh) March 1, 2021

PSL is well and truly alive amidst all the rumors.. so much so for the detractors.. In heat of selling your own agendas you almost played at the cost of our league.. One of the lowest moments we could witness. https://t.co/Q9CVCMb62g
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) March 2, 2021

1/3 No need to panic about 3 players & 1 from the management being Covid 19 +. Make stringent protocols, ensure the biosecure bubble is impenetrable & stop being in self denial. Proper quarantine (i.e. number of days) & minor rescheduling of the matches may well be required.
— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) March 2, 2021

3/3 it’s a global pandemic therefore such happenings are common. Instead of blame games let’s get the act together & deliver. A word of caution for those defending the lapses. It’s not about criticism it about preserving health of the players & also integrity of PSL. 🙏
— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) March 2, 2021

‘PSL 2021 to continue as per schedule’

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