A bad day for PSL and the cricket

Yesterday it was Karachi but sorry to say today it is the whole of HBL PSL where several of foreign players featuring in current edition, have opted to flew back to home, and the PCB rightly so allowed them to do so, for which I am also in favour because this is epidemic and therefore we can't risk other players getting infected.

Sad Helm of Affairs, but this is reality

Seeing empty stadium at Karachi National Stadium, is something I do not want because I have been used to see empty stadium when Pakistan used to play its home games at UAE therefore I was one of those happy Pakistanis who were happy in cricket returning to Pakistan, but now cricket gone back from Pakistan because of a global scenario and not just something occurred in Pakistan only, but it is the main reason cricket again flew away from Pakistan.

Current PSL itinerary involves...

The PSL has scrapped its four-match play-off, turning the knockout stage into a two-day affair with semi-finals and a final, as the league copes with the impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak. As many as ten overseas players and an overseas coach are also leaving because of the developments and fears over travel restrictions.

The rejig shaves four days off the schedule even though it reduces the total match count by just one.

 which means...

"The decision means the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 will be reduced by four days and there will now be 33 matches as opposed to 34," a PCB statement said. "According to the revised schedule, the 17 March semi-finals will be double-headers and will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium with the table-toppers going head to head with the fourth-placed side at 2pm. This match will be followed by the second semi-final, which will begin at 7pm, between the second and third-placed sides.

Players who're opting out of the PSL

A large contingent of English players were among the most significant to pull out from from the PSL because of the pandemic. Peshawar Zalmi's Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Lewis Gregory and Carlos Brathwaite, as well as Multan Sultans' James Vince and Karachi Kings' Alex Hales, were among the first to confirm their departures, and the list has since expanded to include Peshawar's Liam Dawson and coach James Foster, Multan's Rilee Rossouw, and Jason Roy and Tymal Mills of Quetta Gladiators.

South Africa tour to India 2020

South Africa's tour to India was also postponed for indefinite period, because of the same corona virus threat.

IPL 2020

IPL 2020 was also postponed till April since they're expecting situation would get better by that time.

The decision to postpone the tournament, which was scheduled to start on March 29, was taken by the BCCI top brass led by its president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah and top management of the IPL in the wake of the advice given by various arms of the Indian government.

In its statement announcing the decision on Friday afternoon, the BCCI said it was "suspending" the IPL until April 15 as a "precautionary measure" against the coronavirus. "The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the release said. "The BCCI will work closely with the Government of India along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant Central and State Government departments in this regard."

If I quote ESPNcricinfo,

ESPNcricinfo had earlier reported the possibility of the IPL being a severely restricted tournament - with at least some part of it being played to empty stands - because of the pandemic. While the central sports ministry had said it would not stop sporting events from taking place as long as they adhered strictly to government guidelines discouraging mass gatherings, the external affairs (foreign) ministry had said that its advice was to not go ahead with the tournament at this time, but left the decision to the organisers.

Before arriving at the decision to defer the tournament, the IPL is understood to have consulted at least some of the franchises for their views. As far as the franchises were concerned they wanted the tournament to go ahead in whatever form even if behind closed doors. One franchise chief executive said an option that was considered, and, which might still be in play if the tournament starts in April, is to allow no spectators during the first few weeks of the tournament and then upon review resume ticket sales. 

I personally feel...

The show must go on, because if there is risk there is cure, therefore when there would be activity, people would opt for its cure because it is the genetic nature of the human being that it can't be stagnant for long, therefore if sporting activities would carry on, the medics would definitely go for the cure. Furthermore, metabolism is the best cure for this as in-taking fresh water secrete as sweat is definitely going for no harm instead goods for the human body, as research has also proven 0.2 times it is lethal otherwise it would take its time and than banish, therefore I am in favour of continuing the activity with empty grounds and than afterwards slowly people would gather courage to fight it.