PSL 10 Hosting in UAE Faces Major Challenges Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Setback for PSL 10 Hosting Plans
New Delhi [India] - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has encountered significant obstacles in its efforts to host the remaining matches of PSL 10 in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is expressing concerns regarding the potential implications of the ongoing border tensions between India and Pakistan.
Following recent events, the PCB confirmed that the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) X will now take place in the UAE. The last eight games, which were initially set to occur in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore, have been relocated to the UAE.
However, an insider from the Emirates Cricket Board, who requested anonymity, revealed that the board is hesitant to sanction the hosting of the PSL matches in the UAE due to security worries linked to the escalating tensions between the two nations.
“The UAE has a vibrant South Asian community that is passionate about cricket. Organizing a tournament like the PSL during such strained circumstances could disrupt community harmony, create security risks, and incite unnecessary tensions,” the source stated.
The recent developments have made the Emirates Cricket Board cautious about being viewed as a supporter of the PCB, which they fear could be inferred from hosting the PSL. The ECB has maintained a solid relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), having hosted the 'India' edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, various IPL seasons, and India matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Dubai also serves as the headquarters for the International Cricket Council and has hosted numerous events under the Asian Cricket Council during the tenure of former President and current ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
In response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, the Indian Armed Forces initiated 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday, executing precision strikes on nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Pakistan retaliated, but the Indian Army successfully thwarted and responded to multiple drone attacks from Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir during the night of May 8 and May 9.