LAHORE: Mirroring the federal government’s austerity drive in the wake of recent developments in West Asia that have led to a spike in fuel costs, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held at two venues – Karachi and Lahore – and will begin without spectators. The PCB, however, confirmed that the tournament will go ahead as originally scheduled from 26 March to 3 May.

This will be the first time since 2020 that the marquee tournament will be held in front of empty stands. The 2021 edition was marked by limited crowds and disruption, while in 2022, the event began with 25 per cent capacity before moving to full crowds in Lahore midway through the tournament.

The PCB said it will continue to monitor the situation, while PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi expressed hope that crowds could be allowed later, depending on how the crisis in Iran unfolds.

“Additionally, under the revised government SOPs, matches will initially be held without spectators. This operational adjustment has been made purely in support of the broader national conservation effort and to ensure that the tournament is conducted in the most efficient and responsible manner,” the PCB said in a statement.

According to the revised schedule, Lahore will host 14 matches from 26 March to 6 April, before the action shifts to Karachi, where 15 matches will be played from 8 to 19 April. Lahore and Karachi will then share the remaining 15 matches from 21 April to 3 May, almost on alternate days.

Karachi will host the first Qualifier on 28 April, while Lahore will stage the two Eliminators and the final, as per the original schedule, from 29 April to 3 May.

Karachi was initially awarded six matches and Lahore 15, but both cities will now share 22 matches each.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the Patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has requested restricted movement of people because of the fuel crisis, so we have decided that the PSL will continue as per the original schedule but without crowds,” Mohsin Naqvi told a news conference in Lahore on Sunday afternoon.

“We don’t know how long this war will continue,” Mr Naqvi said, adding: “We can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day. We have decided that as long as this [oil] crisis continues, matches will be held without crowds.

“We have to limit our movement and conserve resources. I especially apologise to Peshawar, which was due to host a PSL game for the first time, but with no crowds allowed, there was no reason to take matches to Peshawar as well as the other three cities (Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi).

“This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled.”

Mr Naqvi said the PCB would compensate franchise owners for revenue losses resulting from empty stadiums, most of which would have gone to the franchises. He also confirmed that all ticket holders would be refunded.

On the withdrawal of Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) and Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka), Mr Naqvi said the PCB would take legal action against players who choose the IPL after breaching PSL contracts.

“We will take action against players who breach their contracts according to the rules. There was a case last year too – Corbin Bosch, who was banned from the PSL for one year – and the same will happen this time.

“Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if some players are leaving, we are also attracting excellent replacements. We could not afford to postpone the PSL because we have no other window in the calendar.”

Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman, and West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie have also withdrawn from the PSL citing personal reasons.

Revised schedule of matches from 26-31 March in Lahore:

26 March – Lahore Qalandars v Hyderabad Kingsmen (7pm)

27 March – Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings (7pm)

28 March – Peshawar Zalmi v Rawalpindiz (2.30pm); Multan Sultans v Islamabad United (7pm)

29 March – Quetta Gladiators v Hyderabad Kingsmen (7pm)

31 March – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi (7pm)