PSL 10 UAE Hosting In Doubt As Emirates Cricket Board Hesitates Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

May 9, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plans to relocate the remaining matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have hit a major roadblock, as the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) expresses serious reservations amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Earlier this week, the PCB announced that the final eight matches of the tournament—originally slated for Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore—would be shifted to the UAE, citing operational concerns. However, according to a source close to the ECB, who requested anonymity, the UAE board is unlikely to approve the hosting plan due to security concerns and regional sensitivities.

“The UAE has a diverse South Asian population that is passionate about cricket. Hosting PSL amid such rising tensions could disrupt communal harmony, present security risks, and create unnecessary friction among communities,” the source explained.

Another major concern for the ECB is the potential diplomatic signal that hosting the PSL might send. The board fears being seen as overtly aligned with the PCB during a time of military conflict, which could strain its strong cricketing ties with India and the BCCI. Over recent years, the UAE has hosted multiple IPL editions, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and other high-profile Indian cricket fixtures.

Additionally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is headquartered in Dubai, and the UAE has been a frequent venue for Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, especially during the tenure of Jay Shah, ACC’s former president and the current ICC chairman.

The backdrop of this geopolitical caution is the fallout from the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed. In response, the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Pakistan retaliated with multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations along the Western Border and the Line of Control (LoC). However, the Indian Army successfully repelled these attacks during the night of May 8 and 9, affirming its commitment to national sovereignty.

With the PSL’s future now hanging in the balance, the PCB faces a logistical and diplomatic conundrum, as potential venues dwindle amid regional instability.