HBL PSL 7: Covid-19's new variant 'Omicron' brings new worries for PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already started to get worried over the possible effects of the new Covid-19 variant 'Omicron' as the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven inch closer.

PCB is once again agreed to lend the services of a foreign company for the bio-secure bubble while they have already announced that a complete hotel will be booked for the PSL 7 participants.

According to sources, foreign cricketers may have to isolate for a longer period when they land in Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, PCB has no 'Plan B' if the league gets postponed for any particular reason. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is hosting their own league and the Covid-19 cases are increasing there too.

The last two editions of PSL were disrupted due to the virus. PSL 6 was called off in Karachi last year in March after 14 matches and the remainder of the competition was held in June in Abu Dhabi.

PSL 5 also had the same fate in March 2020 and the playoff matches were held in November 2020.

PCB has a tough challenge ahead viewing the emerging cases of Omicron in the country. All arrangements regarding bio-bubble security will be handed over to the foreign company.

Players were seen breaching protocols during the recently-concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy but hard actions will be implemented if this happens in PSL, viewing what happened last time around.

Players, officials, franchise representatives, hotel staff will stay in one hotel while the ground staff is also likely to be part of the bio-bubble this time around. More details will be revealed regarding it in the upcoming days.

PCB and NCOC have initially agreed to allow a full-capacity crowd for the PSL 7 matches.

A franchise official told that there is no 'Plan-B' for defence if the league once again comes under the radar of the novel coronavirus. Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is already hosting their own league in February/March and staging matches there is highly unlikely. Sri Lanka also hosted their own league recently and the arrangements there were not up to mark.

PCB, at any cost, would have to stage the entire tournament in Pakistan.

It must be noted that season seven will be played in Karachi and Lahore from January 27 to February 27.