The PCB confirmed on Thursday that the remainder of the 2021 edition of the Pakistan Super League will resume on June 9 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The 30 matches of the group stage will be followed by the playoffs, and the final will be held on June 24. There will also be six double headers, which will include the June 21 games - Qualifier and Eliminator 1.Only 15 matches of the tournament were possible earlier in the year, before a spate of positive COVID-19 cases inside the bio-bubble led to the tournament, which was scheduled to be played entirely in Pakistan for the first time, getting postponed on March 4. After skipping past all the logistical challenges, the tournament was finally shifted to UAE.
The PCB, which had decided to shift the remaining matches to Abu Dhabi faced trouble with their government. Several members of the production crew were from India, and travellers from the country are restricted entry into UAE due to the COVID-19 surge. However, eventually, following lengthy discussions, the Abu Dhabi government agreed to allow them entry once the 16 members of the crew completed their isolation in Dubai, before being allowed entry in Abu Dhabi.Those who arrived from Pakistan via charter flights (including Bangladesh and Sri Lankan players) completed their seven-day isolation on Wednesday. Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars even had their first training session.
