PCB forced to change PSL 2025 Draft date and venue after overseas coaches face issues in reaching the original host city

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been compelled to change date and venue for PSL 2025 Draft just three days before the planned event. Originally, the PSL Draft was scheduled to happen on January 11 in Gwadar, but it will now happen on January 13 in Lahore.

The organizers mentioned that they made the changes due to 'unforeseen logistical challenges'. As per a report by Wisden, the overseas coaches could not get the green signal for their visit to Gwadar. The UK government adviced against traveling to Gwadar unless it is all but essential, while the US government states:

“Do not travel to: Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism.”

PCB allotted the hosting rights of PSL 2025 Draft to Gwadar to inspire the next generations of Balochistan to take up cricket as a profession. However, the event will happen at the Huzoori Bagh in Lahore now.

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"We were discussing London and Dubai, and then we received the message: 'Gwadar final, brother'"- Multan Sultans team owner on PSL 2025 Draft

Multan Sultans owner Ali Jahangir Tareen claimed that the PCB selected Gwadar as the venue for the Draft without having proper communication with the franchises. Here's what Tareen said:

“One day, we received a message in the PSL WhatsApp group saying that this year, the PSL draft will be in Gwadar. One franchise owner, who was a bit upset, messaged and asked, 'Sorry, just to clarify, is this a discussion or final?' The reply came 'Final, brother.'

"We were confused, thinking, 'What does final mean?' Then, we were told, 'A press release is coming in three minutes.' We were discussing London and Dubai, and then we received the message: 'Gwadar final, brother.'"

Tareen's team has three overseas coaches, namely Andy Flower (batting coach), Richard Halsall (fielding coach) and Catherine Dalton (fast bowling coach). Although Tareen questioned how the PCB will manage their travel, he did not receive proper answer from the management when the venue was initially announced.

Foreign nationals need an NOC to visit Balochistan. Apart from the aforementioned names, Mike Hesson, Darren Sammy, Ben Dunk, Johan Botha, Ravi Bopara, James Franklin and Shane Watson are also associated with PSL 2025 teams as coaches.