- Urdu version of the media release attached here
Abu Dhabi, 3 June 2021: The six franchise owners have once again reiterated their support and backing for the HBL Pakistan Super League and the Pakistan Cricket Board, while expressing their delight with the resumption of the tournament on 9 June.
Below is what the team owners had to say following Wednesday’s online session in which details of the remaining 20 matches in Abu Dhabi were confirmed.
Islamabad United’s Ali Naqvi: “The HBL Pakistan Super League is Pakistan’s marquee event. I am delighted that after days of hard work and overcoming all surprises, we are now ready to resume the tournament on 9 June. Nothing comes easy in life, and I think this event has tested the patience, crisis management and event planning skills of the PCB as well as all the team owners to the limits.
“The silver-lining in the 9 June start is that all the players will get a week of training and practice, which will help them put up their best performance and justify the decision of the PCB and the team owners to hold the tournament in Abu Dhabi.”
Karachi Kings’ Salman Iqbal: “We all need to understand these are unprecedented and evolving times. What remains unchanged is that this is Pakistan’s league and it is our collective obligation that we make it a success.
“I am happy that after days of hard work and overcoming unexpected challenges, the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 is ready to resume on 9 June. Let’s all get behind this and help this brand get stronger and bigger than ever.”
Lahore Qalandars’ COO Sameen Rana: “We completely understand the challenges PCB had to overcome to schedule the remaining HBL Pakistan Super League 6 matches in the available time in the UAE. We know the PCB has worked extremely hard to make this event happen and are pleased that we have finally reached a situation when the tournament is about to resume.
“Throughout the process, we worked collectively as it is our league and it is our collective responsibility to make it a success.”
Multan Sultans’ Alamgir Khan Tareen: “I know all the players and support personnel are delighted with the news of the 9 June start as they were desperate to get on to the field and show their talent.
“The remaining matches will surely provide the fans with some exciting and absorbing action with some of the best players on display. I remain confident that the commercial partners will also benefit from the remaining 20 matches, the Pakistan players will get quality cricket under their belt before their departure for the United Kingdom and, in the end, it will be cricket that will be the winner.”
Peshawar Zalmi’s Javed Afridi: “These are times where we need to accept, adjust and adopt. An earlier start with less double-headers could have been an ideal option but this solution was not available to the PCB due to certain issues that were beyond their control.
“All is well that ends well, let the show begin on 9 June and I hope we will have exciting and thrilling cricket that will truly be the reward for the tough and testing days in putting the event together.”
Quetta Gladiators’ Nadeem Omar: “Holding the event offshore in these difficult times at a short notice is not an easy job. In this background and despite the uncertainty in the past few days, I am pleased we are now ready to take-off and finish the tournament.
“I am particularly pleased with the 9 June start as it gives time to our captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to complete the room isolation period and be prepared to lead the side as we aim to bounce back strongly and finish the preliminary round matches inside the top-four.”
