In what could be a major setback for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly set to reject Pakistan’s plea to host matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 in the UAE.
The PCB had previously announced that the second half of PSL 2025 would be shifted to the UAE. However, according to a report from PTI, the UAE board is wary of the potential political implications and security concerns arising from the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
UAE Cites Security Concerns & Diplomatic Risks
The Emirates Cricket Board, which has hosted multiple IPL seasons and even the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, has expressed apprehension over hosting the PSL given the current geo-political situation.
“The UAE has a diverse South Asian population which enjoys cricket. Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks and stir unnecessary friction between communities,” stated a source close to the ECB.
Strong Ties with BCCI a Key Factor
The UAE fears that accommodating the PCB could sour its robust relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), given how UAE has supported major Indian cricket events in the past.
Hosting PSL under these “tense circumstances,” as one source pointed out, might be perceived as the UAE aligning with the PCB at a time when India-Pakistan relations have escalated to dangerous levels following conflict at the borders.
PCB Left Scrambling for Alternatives
The PCB is facing a huge crisis as four league matches and the playoffs of PSL 2025 are still pending. These games were initially scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore, but due to heightened security risks—particularly after a reported drone attack near Rawalpindi Stadium—they had announced plans to shift venues to a neutral, “safer” location.
“As a responsible organization that has overcome adversities, it was important for us to ensure the mental well-being of players,” the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, said in a statement. “I regret that our domestic audience will not be able to watch these matches in Pakistani stadiums.”
Pakistan’s Sporting Isolation Deepens
This development comes shortly after many Indian media outlets and broadcasters refused to stream or share scorecards for PSL matches following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, further isolating Pakistan’s cricketing ecosystem.
If the UAE officially declines the PCB’s request, Pakistan will be forced to look for another country to host the remaining PSL matches on short notice—a task that seems increasingly challenging under the current global political landscape.
