Pakistan Super League to be played in empty stadiums as Iran war triggers fuel crisis

The Pakistan Super League (PSL), the nation's premier Twenty20 cricket competition, is set to commence this Thursday under unprecedented restrictions, with no spectators permitted and the tournament confined to just two cities. The drastic measures are a direct consequence of the escalating Iran war , which has triggered a severe fuel crisis in Pakistan. The economic fallout from the regional instability has led to exorbitant fuel price hikes, prompting the Pakistani government to advise its citizens to restrict travel and work from home.

This directive has forced organisers to scale back what is typically a vibrant, multi-city spectacle, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the spectator-less sporting events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the planned six venues, all 44 matches over 39 days will now be split between Lahore and Karachi, with Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and Multan scrapped as hosts this season. The tournament will also forgo its traditional opening ceremony.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has expressed his disappointment that there will be no fans inside the stadium (AP) Cricket holds immense cultural significance in Pakistan, akin to its status in India and across the subcontinent, making the PSL a marquee domestic event. This year, it is starting days before the Indian Premier League, the world's most lucrative cricket competition, and competing to attract star players. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to ban crowds.

"We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches," he stated. "This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. " The PCB explained that reducing the tournament’s footprint minimises "the wider logistical footprint associated with a multi-city tournament, including transport, venue operations, and utility demands, while ensuring continuity of Pakistan’s premier cricket event.