Pakistan Super League - 6 (PSL) 2021

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Web Desk
7:12 PM | May 15, 2021


The remaining matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 will be held in UAE’s Abu Dhabi.

According to sources, the remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) delegation has settled all matters with the Emirates Cricket Board. PCB will reschedule the matches to be completed by June 20.

Sources further said that the PCB officials are waiting for the Emirates Cricket Board to get the green signal from their government tomorrow.

Permission from UAE government is still required due to Eid holidays. A 7-member PCB delegation was present in the UAE on Eid and both boards are hopeful that they will be granted the permission.

It is pertinent to mention here that only 14 matches of the tournament had been played when it was halted. Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi led the points table with six points each while Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars also had six points each but had played only four matches.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 matches were postponed after the third wave of coronavirus hit Pakistan, after which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the remaining matches would take place later on.

 

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'All systems good to go': PCB says remaining PSL matches to be held in Abu Dhabi

Dawn.com
May 20, 2021

The remaining PSL matches will be staged in Abu Dhabi. — AP/File

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday that it had received all outstanding approvals and exemptions from the United Arab Emirates government for staging the remaining 20 Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Abu Dhabi.

"The PCB will now hold an online meeting with the six franchise owners later in the day to update them about the progress made as well as to finalise all details, which will be shared in due course," a press release shared by the cricket board said.


“We are delighted with this development as the remaining hurdles in the staging of the remaining PSL matches in Abu Dhabi have been overcome and all systems are now good to go," PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said.

“We are grateful to the UAE government, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, the Emirates Cricket Board and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support and patronage in ensuring all final obstacles were removed, which has firmly put us in a position to complete our marquee event.

“The PCB, in consultation with the team owners, will now work at pace to finalise all event-related arrangements, details of which will be shared in due course," he said.

He also thanked his staff for their untiring efforts and hard work that included "sacrificing their Eidul Fitr holidays" in an effort to ensure that the board honours its commitment to its fans to hold the remaining matches of the tournament in June.

“The holding of the remaining matches in Abu Dhabi will allow our fans to once again follow and support their favourite players and teams through our high-quality broadcast coverage of one of the most competitive cricket leagues in the world," he said.

The tournament was cut short in March after seven people participating in the tournament tested positive for Covid-19.

At the time, the cricket board had said the decision had been taken out of consideration for the health and wellbeing of all participants in the tournament.

Like the PSL, which was postponed midway through the season with 14 matches played from February 20 to March 3, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was also suspended in May after the emergence of positive Covid-19 cases in the bio-secure bubble created for the participating teams.

 

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May 22, 2021

On Saturday, Peshawar Zalmi announced that it has appointed former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as the team’s batting consultant and mentor for the remaining matches of PSL 6.

In a tweet, Peshawar Zalmi announced, "Legend Inzamam Ul Haq joins Peshawar Zalmi as Mentor/Batting Consultant for remaining matches of PSL 6."

Peshawar Zalmi is currently placed second at the points table with 6 points from five matches.

On the other hand, Peshawar Zalmi's Director of Cricket Mohammad Akram hailed Inzamam as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier confirmed it had received all outstanding approvals and exemptions from the United Arab Emirates government for the staging of the remaining 20 HBL Pakistan Super League matches in Abu Dhabi.

 

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All you need to know about players’ departure for Abu Dhabi


By
ARY Sports
May 21, 2021




KARACHI: All franchises’ players and supporting staff have received important directives as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6’s remainder is just around the corner.

According to the details, players and supporting staff are supposed to get tested for COVID-19 by May 22. At 11 am on May 24, players will start gathering at local hotels in Karachi and Lahore. Players/staff coming from different cities are given a space to check in by May 23. But, now no one will be allowed to check-in after 11 am on 24th May.

Players will enter bio-secure bubble on May 24 after which their second COVID-19 Test will be conducted. Teams will depart for Abu Dhabi via chartered plane on May 26. Players/staff will leave from Karachi at 8:30 am and from Lahore at 9:15 am.

 

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PSL 6: PCB sorts out visa problems after departure gets delayed by 24 hours

• A late-night message by the UAE authorities regarding the delay in the visa issuance forced PCB to cancel the flights.
• However, the board confirmed on Wednesday that a large number of visas have been issued to foreign and local players, support, and technical staff.

Syed Ahmed
26 May 2021


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that the issue of visa delay has been sorted and the departure of squads for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will resume tomorrow.

The first chartered flight was scheduled to take off at 8:55 am on Wednesday from Karachi, while another from Lahore to transport 233 passengers to Abu Dhabi for the remaining PSL 6 matches.

However, a late-night message by the UAE authorities regarding the delay in the visa issuance forced authorities to cancel the flights.

Later, the PCB said that the quarantine period has been extended by 24 hours and instructed the players and the staff to stay at their respective hotels for another day.

The board’s media department confirmed on Wednesday that a large number of visas have been issued to foreign and local players, support, and technical staff.

According to PCB, 25 Indians, part of the production team, India have received their visas to Abu Dhabi today.

Meanwhile, 26 out of 27 South Africans, including support staff and players like Faf Du Plessis, Herschelle Gibbs, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, Cameron Delport, and Michael Smith, have also been issued visas.

Most of the Pakistani players who will travel to Abu Dhabi via chartered flights from Karachi and Lahore have also received their visas.

The board said that the players will fly to Abu Dhabi via chartered flights on May 27, which will be counted as the first day of quarantine when players check-in at their respective hotels before 2 pm on Thursday.

Note that the board has booked three hotels in Abu Dhabi, one of every two teams, for isolation and stay during the tournament.

 

[Asian.Century]

 

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Abu Dhabi ministry objects to presence of Indians in PSL

Mohammad Yaqoob
Published June 2, 2021

LAHORE: The Abu Dhabi Health Ministry has surprisingly raised an objection over the presence of Indian broadcasters to cover the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches despite the fact that the UAE government had issued visas to them along with South African nationals.

Sources said that the PCB, which is determined to start the league matches from June 7, sought special permission for the visas of Indians and South Africans because the UAE government had included both the countries in the red-list due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in both countries.

It is amazing as to why the Abu Dhabi Health Ministry has now raised objections after the Indians and South Africans have already reached Abu Dhabi.

They all landed in Ras-Al’ Khaimah and later reached Abu Dhabi.

All the Indians are now passing through their quarantine period in Dubai. Sources said by Wednesday, the UAE government will take a final decision. If the UAE government allows their stay in Abu Dhabi, the matches may start from June 7. However, if it does not allow them, a grim situation may be confronted by the PCB.

Meanwhile, sources said that the PCB had also informed about the latest development to the PSL franchise owners at a meeting and about the expected new schedule of the matches. It is also learnt that the PCB had delayed the departure of the Pakistan team to England to June 25 instead of June 23.

The two-day delay in departure of the Pakistan team to England will surely help the PCB to reduce the number of double-headers in the league.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed along with six others arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

In another development, Multan Sultans included Blessing Muzarabani in place of Obed McCoy for the remaining 20 matches of the PSL.

Moreover, the players and officials of the franchises owners, who had reached Abu Dhabi from the first chartered flights on May 26 had completed their seven-day quarantine period and now Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will start training from Wednesday at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

It is learnt that the matches of the PSL now will end on June 24 and the very next day, the Pakistan team will fly to England to play three One-day Internationals and as many T20 matches.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2021

 

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Remaining PSL 6 matches to be played in Abu Dhabi from June 9 to 24


Dawn.com
Published June 3, 2021

Mohammad Hafeez hits a shot during the Lahore Qalandars' match against Quetta Gladiators in this file photo. — Photo courtesy: PSL Twitter



The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday the schedule of the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 matches, saying they would be played between June 9 and 24 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, the PCB said there would be six double-headers, five of them to be played in the preliminary round while the sixth one would be held on June 21 when two matches — a qualifier and eliminator 1 — would be played.

The double-headers would begin at 6pm and 11pm (Pakistan time) respectively, while the single-header matches would start at 9pm, it added.

"The delayed start due to logistical and operational challenges that were beyond the PCB's control will allow the sides sufficient time to train, practice and gear up for the biggest prize in Pakistan's cricket calendar," the statement said.

Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars — who will kick off the tournament's Abu Dhabi leg with the 15th match on June 9 — started training on Wednesday evening while the rest of the franchises will start training from today.

"Players and player support personnel, who have completed the mandatory seven-day room isolation and returned three negative tests, are allowed to integrate with their sides and participate in training sessions," the PCB said.

After the tournament, players and support personnel of the national team will fly to the United Kingdom on June 25, the cricket body said.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said the cricket body was "delighted" to be able to announce the complete schedule after taking "decisive actions in the face of ongoing pressures and major challenges outside of our control over the last 10 days".

"There was a consensus between the PCB and the franchises that it was imperative to complete the remaining matches in 2021 so that we have a clean 2022 for PSL 7. Now, after overcoming all obstacles through due diligence and careful planning, I believe we have collectively achieved the desired objective that was set in March following the postponement," the statement quoted Khan as saying.

The PCB official regretted the shifting of the tournament to the UAE but assured fans that "continuing to give [them] access to watch our emerging talent play alongside and against some of the world's very best will remain a priority for the PSL 7 in 2022."

Reacting to the development, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Aref Al Awani, credited "our long and excellent relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board and Ehsan Mani" which he said had "won our government's support with all the necessary exemptions and approvals".

The PSL 6 was cut short in March after seven people participating in the tournament tested positive for Covid-19.

At the time, the cricket board had said the decision had been taken out of consideration for the health and well-being of all participants in the tournament.

 

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June 03, 2021

The remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six will resume on June 9 at Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
As per details, the final of the PSL-6 will be played on June 24. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will reveal the detailed schedule of the mega event soon. The first match will start at 6 pm PST.
The picturesque stadium will host 20 matches of the sixth edition, which will mark the second instance of the venue staging PSL games.
Earlier, PCB said that United Arab Emirates authorities had issued visas to all the players and support staff travelling from India and South Africa for taking part in PSL.

 

[Asian.Century]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1400790629966401541

 

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Faf du Plesis says he is happy to be back in the PSL

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Sunday that cricket leagues were getting stronger all over the world, and “it is a fact that players have lost interest in international cricket.”

Addressing a virtual press conference on Sunday, du Plesis said it was heartening to see the resumption of Pakistan Super League-6, after it was postponed in March earlier this year due to some participants testing positive for Covid-19. At the time, the PCB had said the decision had been taken out of consideration for the health and wellbeing of all participants in the tournament.

Addressing the press conference today, the South Africa batsman said he was happy to be playing again in the league, adding that the playing conditions were now different, hence all teams would start afresh.

The middle-order batsman, who represents Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, said his team was not at the position on the table where it should have been. “I try to share my experience with junior players in the team,” he said.

He said he was pleasantly surprised with the bowling talent in the PSL, as virtually all the teams had excellent bowlers in their line-up.

Hailing the Gladiators captain, du Plesis said Sarfaraz Ahmed always bucked up his teammates in the field.

“Every captain has his own style, and Sarfaraz's way of thinking is different,” he remarked.


‘T20 World Cup favourites’

At the same time, Du Plesis said he believed that the West Indies and India were the favourites in the run up to the T20i World Cup, scheduled in October in the UAE this year.

He further said that an increase in the number of teams competing in the World Cup would be healthy for the sport in general, adding that it was not necessary that only ‘super-fit’ cricketers would go on to become good cricketers.

 

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PHOTO COURTESY: PCB


Four players, that include cricketers Umar Amin (Islamabad United), Hammad Azam (Multan Sultans), Khalid Usman (Peshawar Zalmi) and Asif Afridi (Multan Sultans), have received their respective visas to travel to the UAE for the resumption of the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.

All four cricketers are expected to depart for the UAE on the next available flight. Only one cricketer Imran Randhawa (Peshawar Zalmi) is still left without a valid visa to travel to the UAE. As soon as his visa is received, the cricketer is also expected to depart for the UAE immediately.

It should be noted that the HBL PSL season six is expected to resume on June 9 while the final is expected to be played on June 24. All matches will be played in Abu Dhabi.

 

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Kings' Martin Guptill opens up about his batting position during HBL PSL 6

The 34-year-old revealed that he was aiming to make runs at any position he plays in

Abbas Raza
07 June, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY: Karachi Kings


Karachi Kings’ latest acquisition Martin Guptill, while talking in a virtual press conference on Monday, opened up about his batting position during the upcoming matches of the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six claiming that he was ready to bat at any position for his side.
The 34-year-old revealed that he was aiming to make runs at any position he plays in.

“My aim is to make runs for my side. I don’t know which position the management wants to play me in, but my aim will be to make runs at any position I play in. I have been hard at work in the nets. We are also getting a good opportunity to train after the end of our quarantine in Abu Dhabi,” Guptill said.

“We are getting used to the conditions. I have always found it tough to play in hot conditions. I had been enjoying winters at home. The conditions will also be challenging in the PSL. I will be trying to drink more beverages so that I am not dehydrated and develop cramps,” he added.

The Kiwi batsman stated that he was excited to watch the talented youngsters of the HBL PSL while revealing that Pakistan’s skipper was his favourite batsman in the current Men in Green’s side.

“I am excited to see the talented young cricketers in action during the PSL. As a batsman, I want to face good fast-bowlers and spinners with variety. I am hopeful that the Karachi Kings side will continue their momentum and defend the title. We will try to make the Karachi fans happy,” he said.

“Currently, Babar Azam is my favourite Pakistani batsman. I have played against Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousaf in the past. Both were great batsmen and I had enjoyed their batting greatly,” he concluded.

 

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How the PSL teams stack up ahead of the second leg of the 2021 season

Here's how the six teams look after the two mini replacement drafts ahead of the second leg


Umar Farooq

The second leg of the PSL 2021 is set to begin on June 9


The Pakistan Super League (PSL) had two mini replacement drafts for the six franchises to complete their teams ahead of the second leg of the 2021 edition of the tournament, which had been suspended after 14 matches in March following a spate of Covid-19 cases among players and support staff in Karachi. It will resume on June 9 in Abu Dhabi, with Lahore Qalandars set to take on Islamabad United.

If it hadn't been paused, PSL 2021 would have ended with the final in Lahore on March 22. Between then and now, several overseas players - who were part of the first leg - have withdrawn from the tournament due to various reasons.

Where the teams stand on the points table

Amid the logistical challenges, all six franchises were allowed to pick two additional players in their original squads, with at least one overseas player, increasing squad sizes from 18 to 20. The earlier playing conditions had stated that each team had to feature at least three or a maximum of four overseas players in their XIs, but given the growing obstacles around the Covid-19 pandemic, the number has been reduced to minimum of two overseas players and maximum of four in the XI for each team. Here's a look at all the changes in the squads ahead of the second leg.

Karachi Kings

Form guide: WLWLW (most recent first)

OUT: Colin Ingram, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Joe Clarke, Liton Das

IN: Thisara Perera, Najibullah Zadran, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Haris

Roster: Imad Wasim (capt), Abbas Afridi, Aamer Yamin, Arshad Iqbal, Babar Azam, Chadwick Walton, Danish Aziz, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Haris, Thisara Perera, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Qasim Akram, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood, Zeeshan Malik.

Playing XI (before postponement): Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Joe Clarke, Colin Ingram, Dan Christian, Imad Wasim (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal


Peshawar Zalmi

Form guide: LWWWL (most recent first)

OUT: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ravi Bopara

IN: Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Rovman Powell, Waqar Salamkheil, Hazratullah Zazai

Updated Roster: Wahab Riaz (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Amad Butt, Bismillah Khan, David Miller (partially available), Fabian Allen (partially available), Fidel Edwards (partially available), Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Irfan Snr, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Rovman Powell, Waqar Salamkheil, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, Umaid Asif, Hazratullah Zazai

Playing XI (before postponement): Kamran Akmal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik (capt), Haider Ali, Ravi Bopara/David Miller, Sherfane Rutherford, Amad Butt, Umaid Asif, Saqib Mahmood, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan

Islamabad United

Form guide: WLWW (most recent first)

OUT: Alex Hales, Lewis Gregory, Phil Salt, Janneman Malan

IN: Mohammad Akhlaq, Usman Khawaja, Umar Amin, Brandon King

Updated Roster: Shadab Khan (capt), Ahmed Saifi Abdullah, Ali Khan, Akif Javed, Asif Ali, Colin Munro, Fawad Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Akhlaq, Musa Khan, Rohail Nazir, Usman Khawaja, Zafar Gohar, Zeeshan Zameer, Umar Amin, Brandon King

Playing XI (before postponement): Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Shadab Khan (capt), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Zafar Gohar

Lahore Qalandars

Form guide: WLWW (most recent first)

OUT: David Wiese, Joe Denly, Tom Abell, Samit Patel, Shakib Al Hasan

IN: Rashid Khan, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Seekkuge Prasanna, Tim David, Sultan Ahmed

Roster: Sohail Akhtar (capt), Ahmed Danyal, Ben Dunk, Callum Ferguson, Dilbar Hussain, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, James Faulkner, Maaz Khan, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Hafeez, Rashid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Seekkuge Prasanna, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sultan Ahmed, Tim David, Zaid Alam and Zeeshan Ashraf

Playing XI (before postponement): Fakhar Zaman, Sohail Akhtar (capt), Joe Denly, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk, Samit Patel, David Wiese, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, Haris Rauf

Multan Sultans' Chris Lynn will not be part of the second leg of PSL 2021 AFP

Multan Sultans

Form guide: LLWLL (most recent first)

OUT: Chris Lynn, James Vince, Adam Lyth, Carlos Brathwaite, Obed McCoy, Shahid Afridi, Mahmudullah

IN: Blessing Muzarabani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Asif Afridi, Hammad Azam, Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Waseem Muhammad

Updated Roster: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Hammad Azam, Imran Tahir, Imran Khan Snr, Johnson Charles, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Umar, Blessing Muzarabani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rilee Rossouw, Asif Afridi, Shahnawaz Dhani, Shan Masood, Shimron Hetmyer (partially available), Sohaib Maqsood, Sohaibullah, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir, Waseem Muhammad

Playing XI (before postponement): Chris Lynn, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), James Vince, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Shahid Afridi, Carlos Brathwaite, Sohail Khan, Usman Qadir, Shahnawaz Dhani

Quetta Gladiators

Form guide: WLLLL (most recent first)

OUT: Tom Banton, Dale Steyn, Anwar Ali

IN: Andre Russell, Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Khurram Shehzad, Zahir Khan

Updated Roster: Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt), Abdul Nasir, Andre Russell (partially available), Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Cameron Delport, Faf du Plessis, Hassan Khan, Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Usman Shinwari, Zahid Mahmood, Zahir Khan.

Playing XI (before postponement): Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Faf du Plessis, Azam Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt), Ben Cutting, Mohammad Nawaz, Qais Ahmad, Zahid Mahmood, Dale Steyn, Mohammad Hasnain