PSL 6: Sarfaraz, 10 others denied entry permission to board commercial flights to Abu Dhabi

Karachi, May 30: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed - who leads franchise Quetta Gladiators, and ten other players and officials were on Sunday (May 30) denied clearance to board commercial flights to Abu Dhabi which will host the remaining games of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 next month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been facing logistical issues, including getting visas and permissions to land charter flights from Mumbai and Johannesburg, ahead of the PSL which will resume in Abu Dhabi following a postponement due to bio bubble breach in March this year.

"As many as 11 players and officials on their way to the PSL, including the Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, were not allowed to board commercial flights going from Lahore and Karachi to Abu Dhabi via Doha early morning on Sunday," ESPNcricinfo reported.

"Five persons from this PSL contingent were cleared to fly, while the others had to return to their hotels where they have been in quarantine since May 24." According to the report, "...a batch of more than 25 individuals from both cities was supposed to travel to the UAE on a chartered plane.

"But the PCB, in a late decision, instead opted to put them on commercial flights, which nullified the quarantine protocols already in place."

On Thursday, two charter flights carrying around 250 players, officials, PCB employees and official broadcasters and their staff landed in Abu Dhabi from Karachi and Lahore. The Board had also got permission from UAE authorities to land its charter flights from Mumbai and Johannesburg carrying members of the broadcasting crew, players and officials.

The PCB had faced a long delay getting visas for the Indian and South African broadcasting crew members, an issue which was resolved on Thursday. But according to the report, "...there remain multiple individuals, including the franchise support staff, who are yet to get UAE visas though."

The league is tentatively scheduled from June 5 but the Board is yet to come up with fixtures. The window of hosting the event is small as Pakistan will have to leave for England on June 22 for a limited-overs series. The PSL 6 was postponed in early March in Karachi due to rising COVID-19 cases among players and officials with just 14 matches completed at that time.

(With PTI inputs)