Franchises urge PCB to shift Lahore’s remaining PSL 5 matches to Karachi

The Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift Lahore’s remaining matches of this year’s edition to Karachi.

According to sources, few of the franchises are of the opinion that it does not matter if the matches take place in Lahore or Karachi because they will be played in front of empty stadiums.

The franchises have also said that they will incur travelling expenses while moving to Lahore as most of the teams are currently based in Karachi.  

The PCB has already rescheduled the remaining matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, amid coronavirus concerns, by replacing the playoffs with semi-finals on March 17 and the final on March 18.

The decision means the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 will be reduced by four days and there will now be 33 matches as opposed to 34.

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According to the revised schedule, the March 17 semi-finals will be double-headers and will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium with the table-toppers going head to head with the fourth-placed side at 2pm. This match will be followed by the second semi-final, which will begin at 7pm, between the second and third-placed sides.

The final will be played on March 18 and will start at 7pm. All these changes have been made with the consultation of the team owners.