The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the relocation of the remaining eight PSL X matches, including the qualifier and final, to the UAE due to escalating Pakistan-India tensions.
In a press release, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the remaining eight HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X fixtures, including the qualifier, two eliminators, and final, will be held in the United Arab Emirates.
🚨 Remaining fixtures of #HBLPSLX have been shifted to the UAE 🚨
The exact schedule will be shared in due course 🏏
🗒️ More details 👉 https://t.co/ySTCBa3t0z#ApnaXHai pic.twitter.com/FITJ0U1Efm
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 8, 2025
The rescheduled matches include Karachi Kings vs. Peshawar Zalmi, Peshawar Zalmi vs. Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United vs. Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans vs. Quetta Gladiators. The dates and venues will be announced soon.
The relocation, prompted by heightened security concerns following India’s May 6 airstrikes on Pakistan, which killed 31 civilians, and Pakistan’s retaliation, downing five Indian jets and 25 Harop drones, aims to ensure player and fan safety.
The airstrikes, part of India’s “Operation Sindoor” after the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26, led to widespread disruptions, including airport closures in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, per Reuters. The PSL’s shift echoes previous UAE-hosted seasons (2016-2019) due to security, per The News International.
Read: Pakistan Downs Indian Harop Drone in Bahawalnagar, Rejects IIOJK Attack Claims
According to Al Jazeera, global calls for de-escalation from the US and UN underscore the crisis’s impact, with airlines like Emirates suspending flights, per Bloomberg.