The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the opening phase of the Pakistan Super League 2026 will be played behind closed doors due to the tense regional situation arising from the Iran-US-Israel conflict. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday announced that despite the situation, the tournament will go ahead as scheduled from March 26, but without spectators. He also revealed that the competition has been narrowed down to just two locations – Karachi and Lahore – instead of the originally planned six cities. “Give PSL An international brand and our pride. Therefore, the league will be held as per schedule from March 26 but no spectators will be allowed,” Naqvi said during a press conference, where he was accompanied by PSL CEO Salman Naseer. Naqvi asserted that the decision was not made because of security concerns, but because of the austerity measures introduced by the government in light of the ongoing crisis. “These decisions have been made due to the austerity measures announced by the government due to the situation in the region. I can tell you that overseas players will start arriving. Pakistan From tonight,” he added. The PCB has also canceled the opening ceremony of the tournament in Lahore as part of cost-cutting measures. While the opening matches will be played without crowds, Naqvi hinted that spectators may return later in the tournament if conditions improve, saying the timeline depends on how long the crisis lasts. The wider impact of West Asian conflicts, including the disruption of oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, has led to fuel shortages in Pakistan. As a result, the government has urged citizens to limit travel, with measures such as school closures, work-from-home policies, and extended Eid holidays. Naqvi acknowledged the financial loss to the franchises due to empty stadiums and said the board would compensate all the eight teams by meeting the expected gate revenue. Refunds will also be issued to fans who have already purchased tickets. He further explained that matches were shifted from cities like Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Multan to avoid unnecessary travel and consumption of resources. However, he assured that these locations will be reconsidered in future editions. On the player front, Naqvi confirmed that the PCB’s legal team will take action against the cricketers who opted out of the PSL to join the Indian Premier League. He said that we will take action against these players as per the rules, there was a case last year and the same will happen this time. Despite the withdrawal, Naqvi maintained that the league continues to attract quality talent. “But you can see how the top List A players are joining the PSL and that shows the growth of our league.” The PSL 2026 season will run from March 26 to May 3.
