The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the remainder of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be relocated to the United Arab Emirates. The tournament, which has eight matches left, was originally scheduled to conclude in Pakistan.
A PSL match, which was scheduled for May 8 in Rawalpindi, was rescheduled initially after a drone hit the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The PCB has stated that the revised dates and venues for the remaining fixtures will be confirmed in due course
The decision comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people—25 Indians and one Nepali national. In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor," targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including those associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
On May 9, Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks, along with artillery shelling, targeting civilian and military areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. India clarified that its strikes were confined to terrorist infrastructure and did not target military facilities. In response, India activated its air defence systems, intercepting incoming threats and downing several Pakistani fighter jets, including an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
One of the drones struck the Jammu Civil Airport, and explosions were reported in Rajouri district and along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. In a significant counteroffensive on the night of May 7–8, Indian forces reportedly destroyed a Chinese-made aerial defence system in Lahore.
Given the deteriorating security situation, the PCB was forced to move the PSL out of the country. The UAE is a well-established alternative venue for the league, having hosted the inaugural editions in 2016 and 2017, as well as portions of later seasons due to various disruptions. A major chunk of the 2021 season was also played there amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shift could impact Pakistan’s broader cricketing schedule. Bangladesh are set to tour Pakistan for a five-match T20I series beginning May 25 in Faisalabad. With the PSL final originally slated for May 18, any delays could compress preparation time or disrupt the logistics of the series.
Source: India Today