LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been forced into a corner, announcing a last-minute reschedule of the National T20 Cup final between Abbottabad and Karachi Whites after a total washout at Peshawar’s Imran Khan Cricket Stadium.

However, with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 window looming from March 26 to May 3, finding a viable date for the domestic showpiece remains a logistical nightmare, as the domestic calendar typically enters a hiatus immediately following the franchise league.

The board now finds itself in an embarrassing predicament after failing to bake reserve days into the knockout stages of a premier national tournament. This lack of foresight was already laid bare in Tuesday’s second semi-final, where Abbottabad bypassed a 195-run chase against Lahore Whites to “earn” their final spot purely on group standings – a result dictated by rain rather than a contest.

Criticism of the organizers has intensified following reports that clear weather warnings were ignored. Despite the looming downpour, potential workarounds – such as shifting the final to an afternoon start – were either overlooked or discarded due to logistical inertia, effectively leaving the domestic season’s climax in a state of terminal limbo.

In a surreal turn of events, while players remained confined indoors by the weather, the field was taken over by a promotional tour for the PSL 11 trophy. Surrounded by umbrellas, security personnel, and ground staff, the stage originally intended for a domestic championship instead became a backdrop for a promotional photo session.

The session itself appeared disjointed; players stood by with little enthusiasm as various officials and personnel with field access crowded the masterpiece. The trophy – a handcrafted marvel representing 2,600 hours of labor by 18 master artisans – served as a stark reminder of the looming PSL season, even as the domestic final was washed away.

The focus now shifts entirely to the Pakistan Super League, which kicks off on 26 March with Lahore hosting Hyderabad. The tournament will eventually come full circle back to the Gaddafi Stadium for the final on 3 May.