PSL 2026 Behind Closed Doors: PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Cites West Asia Tensions for Major Scale-Back

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Just four days out from the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, fans in the country have received a shocking development. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has dropped a bombshell that the tournament will only take place in Karachi and Lahore, with no matches set for Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad. The games will also take place without fans as the conflict between Iran, US and Israel has triggered the decision.

Why did PCB decided to change venues for PSL 2026 in the 11th hour?

The ongoing conflict in West Asia that has resulted in a global oil crisis has also deeply impacted Pakistan as the supply is getting disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz. The fuel crisis has forced the Pakistan government to restrict their movements and keep the matches only in Lahore and Karachi. Naqvi, who spoke on March 22, Sunday on the development, said the PSL will go ahead as per schedule but they have had to make some big tweaks. He stated, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:

“The Prime Minister requested all of Pakistan to restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis. We closed schools and instituted work from home and increased the number of Eid holidays. We don’t know how long this war will last. Looking at all of this and after discussions with our security agencies, we decided that the PSL would continue as per the original schedule. But we can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day. We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches. This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled.”

Nevertheless, Naqvi promised that the PCB will compensate the franchise owners for the loss of revenue resulting from this. Moreover, the fans will also get a refund for the tickets they have bought.

“We will take action” – Mohsin Naqvi on those who have pulled out of PSL

Naqvi also promised that action will be taken against the likes of Blessing Muzarabani and Dasun Shanaka for withdrawing from PSL at the last minute to join IPL, adding:

“We will take action against those players according to the rules. There was a case last year too. and the same thing will happen this time. Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we’re getting excellent players coming here as well. We could not afford to postpone the PSL because we have no other window all year.”

PSL 2026 will begin with Lahore Qalandars facing Hyderabad Kingsmen locking horns in Lahore on March 26, Thursday.

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