The Pakistan Super League 2026 will be conducted under heightened security arrangements, with all matches scheduled to take place without spectators. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the decision during a press conference on Sunday.
Initially planned to be staged across six cities, the tournament has now been limited to Karachi and Lahore due to security concerns and a nationwide fuel shortage. As part of the revised plan, venues in Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Rawalpindi have been removed from the schedule, although the match fixtures themselves remain unchanged.
Opening ceremony cancelled as tournament begins on March 26
The league will commence on March 26 with a fixture between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, while the final is set to be played on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The PCB has also decided to cancel the traditional opening ceremony, citing safety considerations and logistical challenges.
Naqvi explained that restricted fuel availability would make it difficult for fans to travel, prompting authorities to limit public movement and prioritise safety measures.
“PSL is our international brand. There are many international players involved. We cannot cancel the tournament. We have decided to go on with the tournament. It will start on March 26. It wouldn’t be easy to host 25000-30000 people. Until and unless the crisis ends, there would be no crowds,” Mohsin Naqvi told reporters.
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Threat warning issued to foreign players
In a related development, a commander reportedly linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has issued a warning directed at overseas cricketers expected to participate in the league. The group is said to have cautioned foreign players against travelling to Pakistan due to security risks.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, the commander stated that the warning was intended as an advisory to international cricket boards, urging them not to send players to the tournament. He also indicated that the group would not accept responsibility for any potential harm.
“We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already warned,” he said.
The commander further stressed the group’s intention to disrupt the competition if overseas players still choose to take part. “We will do whatever is in our capacity, but we will not let the match happen,” he said.
When asked again to clarify the message, he reiterated the objective of preventing matches from being staged and stopping players from participating.
“Yes, we will do our best to ensure that the matches do not happen and the players do not play.”
It was also noted that the publication has contacted several cricket boards, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia, for comment regarding the warning. At the time of reporting, no official responses had been received.
