England declines to host PSL 10 playoffs

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were contemplating holding the PSL 10 playoffs and final match in another country, with England initially considered the leading candidate.

Franchise owners, concerned about the costs, were told that an official would be sent to England to assess the situation. However, sources have revealed that England has declined to host the matches, citing the unavailability of their grounds as the reason.

In response, some PCB officials are now suggesting the UAE as an alternative venue. However, the extreme heat in May poses a significant challenge for conducting the matches there.

The proposed dates for PSL 10 are from April 10 to May 25, coinciding with the Indian Premier League (IPL). This overlap has raised concerns among franchises that key foreign players might prefer participating in the IPL over the PSL.

Furthermore, franchises had previously written to the PCB regarding profit shares from the ninth edition and other issues, but the PCB has yet to respond. A senior official recently assured the owners during a phone conversation that a governing council meeting would be called soon to address their concerns.

Rauf’s spell in vain

Southern Brave continued their impressive form in the Hundred this year, securing their fourth win out of five by decisively defeating Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens.

James Vince’s match-winning innings of 73 off 50 balls set a challenging target of 140 for the Fire, who never posed a significant threat to the chase. This victory placed the Brave at the top of the table.

After winning the toss, Welsh Fire opted to field first. However, the Brave’s batters built solid partnerships, with Alex Davies, Leus du Plooy, and Kieron Pollard providing strong support to Vince, who remained unbeaten on 73.