“We Owe It to BCCI and Jay Shah”: UAE Explains Refusal to Host Remaining PSL Matches

Emirates Cricket Board turns down Pakistan’s request to shift PSL 2025 to UAE, citing longstanding ties with Indian cricket board amid ongoing border tensions.

May 10, 2025: As India and Pakistan remain entangled in heightened military tensions, the cricketing fallout between the two nations has also deepened. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, already suspended amid the hostilities, has hit another roadblock — this time from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), which declined the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to relocate the remainder of the tournament to the UAE.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Set for Quick Resumption After India-Pakistan Ceasefire, Says Chairman Arun Dhumal

According to a Cricbuzz report, the ECB’s decision came after informal yet firm communication from Indian cricketing authorities, particularly from former BCCI President and current ICC chief, Jay Shah.

“We owe it to the BCCI and Jay Bhai,” a senior ECB official reportedly told the outlet, referencing the close relationship between the BCCI and ECB, which was solidified when the IPL was successfully staged in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: IPL 2025: International Players Depart as Suspension Casts Doubt on Season’s Future

While the BCCI has the resources and global leverage to stage the IPL overseas if necessary, the PCB finds itself far more restricted, both logistically and financially.

With just four league matches and four playoff games left, the PSL’s future is uncertain. The PCB, acknowledging the mental stress on players, issued a statement expressing concern for the safety and emotional well-being of foreign cricketers and their families, many of whom have already exited Pakistan.

Also Read: 🇵🇰 Rattled PCB Shifts Pakistan Super League to UAE Amid India-Pakistan Military Tensions

Meanwhile, hopes for renewed regional stability were rekindled after US President Donald Trump announced a “full and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan. However, in the realm of cricket diplomacy, relations remain frosty — and for now, the PSL remains without a host.

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PSL 2025, UAE ECB, BCCI Jay Shah, Pakistan Super League relocation, India Pakistan cricket relations, IPL 2025, cricket diplomacy, Emirates Cricket Board, PSL suspension, Jay Shah UAE, OperationSindoor,