From breaking a bubble to a game delay to a forever postponed tournament, here’s what happened between February 19 and March 4
Pakistan’s sixth edition of the Super League has been postponed after a number of positive Covid-19 tests – as many as seven players or officials have now returned positive tests in less than a week. Last season, as the pandemic began, the league had to cut its fifth season short, although it organized the remaining games and held them in November 2020. This season saw levels gradually rise before today’s dramatic events forced the tournament to be postponed, with less than half of its 34 games completed. Here is a timeline of how events ended.
February 19th
A day before the start of the sixth season, a player from Lahore Qalandars tests positive for Covid-19 and shows symptoms. He is left alone for ten days.
February 19th
One night before the opening match, Peshawar coach Zalmi Daren Sammy and captain Wahab Riaz break the biosecurity bubble that is a place for all teams in the Karachi hotel by meeting the right owner had Javed Afridi, who was not part of the bubble. The couple are asked to go into quarantine for three days and must return two negative tests before they can return to the team.
February 21st
After Zalmi applied with the PSL events committee for a discount, Sammy and Wahab are allowed to re-enter with the squad, despite not serving in the three-day quarantine period. The pair has returned two negative tests within 48 hours. The results of the second test arrive in the morning, delaying Peshawar’s departure for the stadium. Riaz then leads the way to a loss against the Qalandars, with Sammy in the dugout.
March 1st
The match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators was first delayed and then postponed until the next day after Fawad Ahmed returned a positive test. A report from United says Ahmed, who had started showing symptoms, was sent alone two days ago. That suggests that it was on February 27, which means he would have gone on his own shortly after taking part in his first game of the season – against Zalmi. All other United and Gladiators are undergoing rapid fire tests, all of which return negative tests.
March 2nd
All players and officials undergo PCR testing. The reorganized game goes on and the PCB says it will not test every fourth day, instead of every week as previously expected.
March 2nd
Two other players – including Tom Banton – and one supporter are returning to positive trials. The PCB holds a meeting with franchises to reassure them and reiterates its message that players must adhere to the protocols. The board says it is pleased that their bubble protocols are secure, although it admits that “life in bubbles is very difficult and difficult to manage as well. This is happening in different ways. Other sports in the world – NFL, NHL, Formula 1 or Australian Open – fractures occur but that does not mean that the bubble is weak or that there are gaps. “
March 3rd
The license holders and management of the league hold a meeting to chart a way forward for the league after the advanced tests. One option discussed is to avoid Lahore’s leg and play out all season in Karachi. At least two franchises raise strong objections to that view. The PCB also announces that it will provide vaccinations to all players and officials.
March 4th
Three other players are positive, and news is coming in that Dan Christian of Australia is leaving the tournament due to Covid-19 issues. Shortly afterwards, the PCB says it is canceling the league immediately. The board says the new cases did not come from any of the teams played in Wednesday ‘s head – to – head games, which will rule out players from Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans or Quetta Gladiators.