PSL 2022 will kickstart on January 27 & just before the beginning of the tournament; three players & five support staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in the latest round of RT-PCR tests.
Naseer has confirmed that players and staff have undergone isolation
The PSL director Salman Naseer has assured that the players & support staff who have returned with positive results have undergone isolation.
The players who have tested positive with COVID-19 could resume their training sessions with their respective teams from January 24 after completing their isolation periods & returning with two negative results in the RT-PCR tests.
Meanwhile, members of six franchisees have started checking in their hotels after returning with negative results in the pre-arrival tests. As a precautionary measure, the PCB had started pre-emptive testing of the hotel staff and PCB officials from January 14 – the hotel staff who had tested positive were released, and they will remain in home isolation till returning with negative results in another round of RT-PCR tests.
“PCB remains committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all participants so that they can play and perform to the best of their abilities,” Naseer said in a statement. “In the environment that we presently live in, there will be positive cases, but we have robust health and safety plans to ensure the event is played and concluded in the January 27 to February 27 window.”
After entering the bio-bubble, every individual will have an RT-PCR test every second day.
According to the PSL 2022 plan of action, around 17 rounds of tests will be conducted during the tournament. There is a mandatory three days of Quarantine followed by four days of training before the game starts in Karachi. The first three days of Quarantine will have regular rounds of testing & everyone returning with two negative RT-PCR tests is allowed to enter the bi-bubble. After entering the bio-bubble, every individual will have an RT-PCR test every second day.
The PCB has taken extra precautions to facilitate smooth commencement of the tournament, which also includes provisions to avoid a postponement of the match even if a few players contracts COVID-19. The franchisees allowed 20 players on their rosters with an additional pool of reserve players to provide cover in case of an emergency. The board has also jotted down detailed health and safety protocols at venues and has a step-by-step guide for every stage of the tournament.