PSL 5 likely to resume after T20 World Cup: Karachi Kings owner

Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal has indicated that the knock-out stage of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 is likely to take place later this year after the ICC T20 World Cup in November.

The HBL PSL season five was postponed indefinitely after a meeting between PCB and PSL franchises on Tuesday.

The decision was taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PSL franchises, unanimously, after one foreign player was suspected with coronavirus.

While talking to The National, the Karachi Kings owner said that franchises are in contact with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding finding the most feasible window for the knock-out stage of the tournament.

“We are planning to do a seven-day event for the semi-finals and the final,” Iqbal said. “The four teams, who are part of the board of PSL, are talking to the PCB about it. We think there is a window of seven to eight days after the World Cup in Australia that might be possible.”

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Karachi Kings and England batsman Alex Hales issued a statement on Tuesday, in which he stated that he has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and is yet to be tested.

Iqbal revealed that everyone, including cricketers and support staff, associated with the franchise have tested negative for the aforementioned virus.

“We have all been tested, the team and the Karachi Kings management, and all results have come back negative,” he said. “Everybody who was near Alex is negative. I spoke to Alex the day before yesterday, late at night, and he said he has symptoms.’’

“We told the [Pakistan Cricket Board]. They cancelled the league, and we had tests done,” he added.

It must be noted that the PCB has suspended its all domestic competitions and cricket activities.