PSL 2021: PCB announces initial schedule of remaining matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the remaining matches of the PSL 2021 will be played from June 9-24. 

"The remaining Pakistan Super League 6 matches will be played in Abu Dhabi from June 9-24, before the Pakistan men’s side’s departure for Manchester from the UAE capital on June 25," said a statement issued by the PCB.

The board  said that the Abu Dhabi leg of the PSL will have six double headers. It said that five of those will be played  during the preliminary round and the sixth will be played on June 21 when the knockout matches will be played. 

"These matches will start at 1700 UAE time (1800 PKT time) and 2200 UAE time (2300 PKT time), respectively, while the single-headers will begin at 2000 UAE time (2100 PKT time)," said the PCB regarding the schedule.

The announcement came as a relief for all stakeholders of the PSL, including fans, who have been eagerly anticipating the return of the league after it was abruptly suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in early March.

These matches were initially planned to be played from June 1 in Karachi but a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the country last month forced the NCOC to deny the PCB permission to hold these matches.

The PCB then planned to move the matches to the UAE, and for the matches to be played on the same dates. However, that didn't come to fruition as according to the initial plan, the remainder of the tournament was supposed to be kicked off from June 5 and then June 7 was the date decided by the board.

After a lot of suspense and delay, June 9 was confirmed as the final date.

Issues like visa delays, permission to land for chartered flights and quarantine protocols were the major obstacles faced by the cricket board.

The final schedule is given below: