The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday responded for the first time after the Australian government warned its players to avoid the city of Peshawar ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026. Despite rising tensions across the Gulf region and along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the PCB has confirmed PSL 2026 will proceed, featuring a sizeable number of international cricketers.
Concerns for overseas players surfaced after reports of more than 400 deaths in recent airstrikes in Kabul. Not only has this added to the uncertainty, but it could also influence plans for more than 40 non-Pakistan stars who have signed the dotted lines.
According to a PTI report, the PCB brushed aside reports that Australian players were reluctant to travel to Pakistan for PSL 2026 due to the ongoing tensions.
“All travel arrangements and plans are in place, and we will have all the Australian players who have signed for the PSL 11 start arriving from next week,” PTI quoted a source.
Earlier, Australian media outlet CODE Sports reported that the government had informed players and support staff about the potential risks of travelling to Pakistan, despite Cricket Australia giving them clearance. The government specifically advised players to avoid Peshawar, which remains under a “do not travel” advisory due to the instability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Peshawar will host just one game in PSL 2026.
When is PSL 2026 starting?
Meanwhile, the PSL 2026, which starts on 26 March, will have eight franchises for the first time in history. The final will be played on 3 May. Making his PSL debut, Australian Marnus Labuschagne has been entrusted with leadership duties after new entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen appointed him the captain for PSL 2026.
Labuschagne is the third Australian captain in PSL 2026 after David Warner for Karachi Kings and Ashton Turner for Multan Sultans.
