PSL Exhibition Match: PSL Kashmir Day Match – Peshawar vs Quetta Exhibition Match – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a diktat to its players to come back from franchise leagues to play PSL Exhibition match. As many as 21 players are currently playing in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL). But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairperson Najam Sethi has issued a stern warning to players asking them to report in Quetta to play the mandatory Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi exhibition on February 5. Players are not happy with the diktat and many have already refused to come back. Follow PSL 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Pakistani Players in foreign leagues:
- BPL: 17
- BBL: 4
- SA20: 0
- ILT20: 0
PSL Exhibition Match: Pakistani Cricketers very UNHAPPY as PCB issues DIKTAT to players to leave BBL 2023 & BPL 2023 for PSL Exhibition match, Check Details
Why is PCB issuing diktats to the player for this exhibition match?
The exhibition match, which will feature Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Quetta Gladiators taking on Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi, is set to take place on February 5th, ahead of season 8 of the Pakistan Super League. But there is more to the story than this. The date chosen for the match has enormous relevance in the country’s politics. The venue also reflects their political aspirations more than the cricketing aspect of it.
Every year, Pakistan observes February 5 as Kashmir Day countrywide to stake a claim on the Indian territory. This time, Hence, Pakistani cricketers missing the exhibition match a strict PCB warning was issued for the players to mark their physical presence on the day. Meanwhile, Quetta, part of the Balochistan province of Pakistan, is widely considered a ‘troublesome zone’ and has recently witnessed violence. The PCB is mulling plans to host a successful exhibition match there to mark their generosity to the locals and give them a sense of unity through sports.
Speaking to the press ahead of the highly anticipated exhibition match, Sethi said:
“The decision to host an exhibition match in Quetta was to put a soft image of Balochistan which is considered a ‘troubled province’. This match is in our national interest and we all have to make it successful.”
PSL Exhibition Match: Pakistani Cricketers very UNHAPPY as PCB issues DIKTAT to players to leave BBL 2023 & BPL 2023 for PSL Exhibition match, Check Details
Quettaaaa! Are you Ready!!!!
A PSL Exhibition Match is being Played between The Zalmis and The Gladiators on 5th Feb at Bugti Stadium.
Grab Your passes from 30th Jan and Witness the Historical moment of Balochistan. #PSL coming home #PZVsQG pic.twitter.com/uNLmTDVuQb— Hamzah Shehzad 🇵🇰 (@hamza_shahzad98) January 27, 2023
Strict words used by PCB’s Najam Sethi – A few players have refused to leave their franchise assignments and requested the PCB to reconsider their move. They want the PCB to allow them to complete their assignments before they return for PSL schedule. But the request has fallen on deaf ears.
Najam Sethi, the chairperson of the PCB managing committee has issued a stern warning to players, saying it is PCB’s contractual right to recall players.
“Franchises have told me that some of their players are not willing to come back from BPL. There are 4-5 players who have requested to let them complete their BPL contract. But, I want to give a clear message, they have to come back as we want them for our national interest.”
“It’s our contractual right that whenever we want our players, we can call them back anytime from anywhere. This happens all around the world. I know they want to earn money by completing their contract, but we need them to fulfil our national interest,” he further added.
PSL Exhibition Match: Pakistani Cricketers very UNHAPPY as PCB issues DIKTAT to players to leave BBL 2023 & BPL 2023 for PSL Exhibition match, Check Details
Which players are participating in the BPL 2023?
Players part of Quetta vs Peshawar match in BPL:
- Wahab Riaz
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Naseem Khan
- Haris Rauf
- Saim Ayub
The exhibition match has created much furor amongst the fans and players. PSL has become the flagship event in Pakistan’s cricketing calendar, and the exhibition match could provide the much-needed kickstart to their 8th season. However, it will be interesting to see how the following players react to the PCB diktat issued for them. Will they return or ignore the board’s warning will be a thing to watch out for.
PSL Exhibition Match: Pakistani Cricketers very UNHAPPY as PCB issues DIKTAT to players to leave BBL 2023 & BPL 2023 for PSL Exhibition match, Check Details
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