Pakistan's Twenty20 cricket league was suspended Tuesday just hours before the start of the semi-finals because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced last week that the playoffs would be truncated with this week's semi-finals and final in Lahore to be played with no spectators to prevent the spread of COVID-19.&nbsp;

The final had already been brought forward from Sunday to Wednesday.

However a spike in coronavirus cases this week and an exodus of international players from the country appears to have forced authorities to reconsider.

"PSL 2020 remaining matches are postponed, to be rescheduled and more details to follow in due course," the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Twitter.

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HBLPSLV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HBLPSLV</a> postponed, to be rescheduled. More details to follow in due course.
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) <a href="https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1239807391794892800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The announcement comes a day after Pakistan said it had also postponed an upcoming tour next month by Bangladesh.

Pakistan has recorded more than 100 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus but no deaths so far.

However, officials have tested fewer than 1,000 potential cases in the country of about 215 million people, where healthcare is frequently inadequate following decades of under-investment.

The month-long PSL began in February, with games held solely in stadiums across the cricket-mad country for the first time in its five-year history.&nbsp;

Previous seasons saw a portion of matches held in the United Arab Emirates over security fears.

A deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus halted international cricket tours to Pakistan, but visits are gradually resuming following an improvement in security.

Pakistan's Twenty20 cricket league was suspended Tuesday just hours before the start of the semi-finals because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced last week that the playoffs would be truncated with this week's semi-finals and final in Lahore to be played with no spectators to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Pakistan's Twenty20 cricket league was suspended Tuesday just hours before the start of the semi-finals because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced last week that the playoffs would be truncated with this week's semi-finals and final in Lahore to be played with no spectators to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The final had already been brought forward from Sunday to Wednesday. However a spike in coronavirus cases this week and an exodus of international players from the country appears to have forced authorities to reconsider. "PSL 2020 remaining matches are postponed, to be rescheduled and more details to follow in due course," the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Twitter. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT#HBLPSLV postponed, to be rescheduled. More details to follow in due course. — PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 17, 2020 × The announcement comes a day after Pakistan said it had also postponed an upcoming tour next month by Bangladesh. Pakistan has recorded more than 100 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus but no deaths so far. However, officials have tested fewer than 1,000 potential cases in the country of about 215 million people, where healthcare is frequently inadequate following decades of under-investment. The month-long PSL began in February, with games held solely in stadiums across the cricket-mad country for the first time in its five-year history. Previous seasons saw a portion of matches held in the United Arab Emirates over security fears. A deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus halted international cricket tours to Pakistan, but visits are gradually resuming following an improvement in security.

Pakistan Super League 2020 semis postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

Pakistan cricket authorities appeared Thursday to brush off fears for the coronavirus pandemic as it prepared to host several Pakistan Super League matches in the bustling commercial hub of Karachi.&nbsp;

The city of at least 15 million people is set to host five Twenty20 league games starting Thursday evening at the national stadium, which can hold up to 30,000 spectators.&nbsp;

The decision to move ahead with the league comes as anxiety escalated globally about the potential of unchecked transmission of the virus at big sports events.&nbsp;

Sporting events around the world have been cancelled or postponed over the virus, including the suspension of NBA games in North America.

Social media users in Pakistan voiced concerns over authorities continuing to host games despite a rise in coronavirus cases.&nbsp;

"Still trying to understand why PSL hasn't been canceled during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC," tweeted Pakistan novelist Fatima Bhutto.&nbsp;

"World's best sports events are cancelled but in Pakistan flight operations are still going on, PSL is still not banned... Where we're headed?" added Twitter user Asim Siddiq.&nbsp;

However, officials insisted the situation was under control.&nbsp;

In a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, officials encouraged fans attending games to wash their hands and refrain from hugging, shaking hands and spitting.

"We have ensured all kinds of safety measures at the PSL matches, so the people can enjoy cricket," said Murtaza Wahab, the provincial government spokesman.

"Spectators would be scanned and they would be able to wash and sanitise their hands before entering into the stadium."

Pakistan has recorded just 20 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus -- including several in Karachi -- but no deaths, according to Mumtaz Ali Khan from the National Institute of Health.

However, there are fears that officials have yet to test large swathes of the population in earnest due to a lack of resources and decades of underinvestment in the country’s health sector.

This year’s PSL tournament is the first in the league’s five-year history to in its entirety on home soil.

Previous seasons saw a portion of matches held in the United Arab Emirates over security fears.

Pakistan cricket authorities appeared Thursday to brush off fears for the coronavirus pandemic as it prepared to host several Pakistan Super League matches in the bustling commercial hub of Karachi.

Pakistan cricket authorities appeared Thursday to brush off fears for the coronavirus pandemic as it prepared to host several Pakistan Super League matches in the bustling commercial hub of Karachi. The city of at least 15 million people is set to host five Twenty20 league games starting Thursday evening at the national stadium, which can hold up to 30,000 spectators. The decision to move ahead with the league comes as anxiety escalated globally about the potential of unchecked transmission of the virus at big sports events. Sporting events around the world have been cancelled or postponed over the virus, including the suspension of NBA games in North America. Social media users in Pakistan voiced concerns over authorities continuing to host games despite a rise in coronavirus cases. "Still trying to understand why PSL hasn't been canceled during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC," tweeted Pakistan novelist Fatima Bhutto. "World's best sports events are cancelled but in Pakistan flight operations are still going on, PSL is still not banned... Where we're headed?" added Twitter user Asim Siddiq. However, officials insisted the situation was under control. In a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, officials encouraged fans attending games to wash their hands and refrain from hugging, shaking hands and spitting. "We have ensured all kinds of safety measures at the PSL matches, so the people can enjoy cricket," said Murtaza Wahab, the provincial government spokesman. "Spectators would be scanned and they would be able to wash and sanitise their hands before entering into the stadium." Pakistan has recorded just 20 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus -- including several in Karachi -- but no deaths, according to Mumtaz Ali Khan from the National Institute of Health. However, there are fears that officials have yet to test large swathes of the population in earnest due to a lack of resources and decades of underinvestment in the country’s health sector. This year’s PSL tournament is the first in the league’s five-year history to in its entirety on home soil. Previous seasons saw a portion of matches held in the United Arab Emirates over security fears.

Pakistan pushes ahead with PSL 2020 despite coronavirus fears

Pakistan meanwhile has reported 20 positive cases of coronavirus. The worst-hit coronavirus state in Pakistan is Sindh with 15 cases of the infection. On March 10 two new cases were confirmed Hyderabad of a patient who had returned from Syria via Doha and another case in Karachi. The Pakistan Super League matches will still go ahead and will be staged in Sindh. Watch report:

WION Dispatch: Cricket matches to go ahead in Karachi

A Pakistani cricket tribunal Monday upheld a 10-year ban on former opener Nasir Jamshed over his role in various fixing scandals that rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The 28-year-old -- one of six players banned for multiple charges of spot fixing -- was sanctioned by an anti-corruption tribunal in August for his role in the scandal, which tainted the Twenty20 tournament in only its second year.

"The independent adjudicator has found the ban was 'perfectly justified' and shall continue to remain in force," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

Jamshed was first banned for 12 months by the same tribunal last December for failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The cricketer has been enmeshed in controversy since allegations broke he had effectively been a "lynchpin" who approached and solicited other players" in spot-fixing in PSL matches played in the United Arab Emirates.

Spot-fixing refers to illegal activity in a sport where a specific part of a game is fixed, unlike match-fixing, where the whole result is fixed.

Jamshed was also arrested by the National Crime Agency in England on spot-fixing charges but was later released on bail in February last year.

Jamshed has played two Tests, 48 one-day internationals and 18 T20s for Pakistan until 2015.

His career nosedived during the 2015 World Cup where he was found overweight and mocked during fielding, managing just five runs in three matches.

The other players banned in the PSL spot-fixing tribunal were Sharjeel Khan (five years with two and a half suspended), Khalid Latif (five years), Mohammad Irfan (one year with six months suspended) and Mohammad Nawaz (two months, one suspended).&nbsp;

A Pakistani cricket tribunal Monday upheld a 10-year ban on former opener Nasir Jamshed over his role in various fixing scandals that rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

A Pakistani cricket tribunal Monday upheld a 10-year ban on former opener Nasir Jamshed over his role in various fixing scandals that rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The 28-year-old -- one of six players banned for multiple charges of spot fixing -- was sanctioned by an anti-corruption tribunal in August for his role in the scandal, which tainted the Twenty20 tournament in only its second year. "The independent adjudicator has found the ban was 'perfectly justified' and shall continue to remain in force," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. Jamshed was first banned for 12 months by the same tribunal last December for failing to cooperate with the investigation. The cricketer has been enmeshed in controversy since allegations broke he had effectively been a "lynchpin" who approached and solicited other players" in spot-fixing in PSL matches played in the United Arab Emirates. Spot-fixing refers to illegal activity in a sport where a specific part of a game is fixed, unlike match-fixing, where the whole result is fixed. Jamshed was also arrested by the National Crime Agency in England on spot-fixing charges but was later released on bail in February last year. Jamshed has played two Tests, 48 one-day internationals and 18 T20s for Pakistan until 2015. His career nosedived during the 2015 World Cup where he was found overweight and mocked during fielding, managing just five runs in three matches. The other players banned in the PSL spot-fixing tribunal were Sharjeel Khan (five years with two and a half suspended), Khalid Latif (five years), Mohammad Irfan (one year with six months suspended) and Mohammad Nawaz (two months, one suspended).

Pakistan cricket officials uphold ban against opener Jamshed

Pakistan&#39;s cricketer-turned- politician Imran Khan&#39;s stand on the recently concluded PSL final in Lahore reached Parliament with&nbsp;PML-N lawmaker Mian Javed Latif calling the Pakistani cricket legend a &quot;traitor&quot;.

Mian Javed Latif&#39;s defiant stand led to a heated argument with Murad Saeed who belongs to Imran Khan&#39;s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Their argument soon disintegrated into a scuffle which was stopped in time by other lawmakers present in the&nbsp;National Assembly.

The matter did not end there, Saeed kept the issue burning&nbsp;saying&nbsp;PML-N lawmaker had no reason to call Imran Khan a &quot;traitor&quot; and asked the Speaker to take notice.

Not to be undone, PML-N&#39;s Talal Chaudhry accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker&nbsp;of deliberately creating unpleasant scenes in Parliament.

The controversy<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VFoCr0bxk"> was ignited yesterday by Imran Khan in a leaked video</a> in which he opposed staging of Sunday&#39;s final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore.

Watch Video:&nbsp;
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The PTI chief&nbsp;wanted the tournament to be played in the UAE citing security reasons. The former World Cup-winning captain went a step further and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/imran-khan-angers-fans-by-calling-darren-sammy-third-class-13151">used derogatory terms against some foreign players in the league namely Darren Sammy of the West Indies calling him &quot;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/imran-khan-angers-fans-by-calling-darren-sammy-third-class-13151">phateechar</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/imran-khan-angers-fans-by-calling-darren-sammy-third-class-13151">&quot;&nbsp;</a>meaning &quot;third class&quot;.

Imran Khan&#39;s leaked video went viral as several Pakistan fans attacked the former cricket captain on social media even though he seemed to take a soft stand publicly&nbsp;on Twitter congratulating Peshawar for winning the final

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Congratulations to Peshawar Zalmi on winning the PSL final.
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/838462281092583427">March 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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but he soon appeared on a Pakistani news channel and declared, &quot;Sammy was captain but he is not a big player, had Chris Gayle come, had Kevin Pietersen come, I would have said they were big international stars.&quot;&nbsp;

Several players had in fact backed down from playing in Pakistan. England cricketer Pietersen withdrew from the final over security fears along with other Quetta players Rilee Rossouw from South Africa and England&#39;s Luke Wright and Tymal Mills who also refused to play in Pakistan.

(WION with agency inputs)
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A PML-N lawmaker called cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan a 'traitor' for his views on the Pakistan Super League

Pakistan's cricketer-turned- politician Imran Khan's stand on the recently concluded PSL final in Lahore reached Parliament with PML-N lawmaker Mian Javed Latif calling the Pakistani cricket legend a "traitor". Mian Javed Latif's defiant stand led to a heated argument with Murad Saeed who belongs to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Their argument soon disintegrated into a scuffle which was stopped in time by other lawmakers present in the National Assembly. The matter did not end there, Saeed kept the issue burning saying PML-N lawmaker had no reason to call Imran Khan a "traitor" and asked the Speaker to take notice. Not to be undone, PML-N's Talal Chaudhry accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker of deliberately creating unpleasant scenes in Parliament. The controversy was ignited yesterday by Imran Khan in a leaked video in which he opposed staging of Sunday's final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore. Watch Video: The PTI chief wanted the tournament to be played in the UAE citing security reasons. The former World Cup-winning captain went a step further and used derogatory terms against some foreign players in the league namely Darren Sammy of the West Indies calling him "phateechar" meaning "third class". Imran Khan's leaked video went viral as several Pakistan fans attacked the former cricket captain on social media even though he seemed to take a soft stand publicly on Twitter congratulating Peshawar for winning the final Congratulations to Peshawar Zalmi on winning the PSL final. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 5, 2017 × but he soon appeared on a Pakistani news channel and declared, "Sammy was captain but he is not a big player, had Chris Gayle come, had Kevin Pietersen come, I would have said they were big international stars." Several players had in fact backed down from playing in Pakistan. England cricketer Pietersen withdrew from the final over security fears along with other Quetta players Rilee Rossouw from South Africa and England's Luke Wright and Tymal Mills who also refused to play in Pakistan. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan lawmakers scuffle in Parliament over Imran Khan's remark on Pakistan Super League

Pakistan batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been provisionally suspended and sent home from a Twenty20 competition being played in Dubai as part of an anti-corruption investigation, the country&#39;s cricket board has said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was investigating whether an international syndicate had attempted to influence matches in the Pakistan Super League, it said in a statement.

Both Sharjeel and Latif play for Islamabad United in the PSL, which is being played in Dubai due to security concerns in Pakistan, though the final will be staged on home soil.

&quot;Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the ICC will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport,&quot; the PCB said.

Sharjeel played the opening match of the 2017 edition for defending champions Islamabad against Peshawar Zalmi, while Latif was not part of the playing XI.

PSL Chairman Najam Sethi said in a statement that they were working with PCB`s and International Cricket Council`s anti-corruption units to root out corruption.&nbsp;

&quot;The investigation of the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit backed by the ICC ACU has been effective in dealing with this case to date and we will continue to work in the closest collaboration as the investigation proceeds,&quot; he said.

&quot;We are all absolutely committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who would seek to damage the integrity of our sport.&quot;

Sharjeel is a regular member of Pakistan`s limited-overs team and made his test debut against Australia in Sydney last month, while Latif has played five one-day internationals and 13 T20 matches.

(Reuters)

The Pakistan Cricket Board was investigating whether an international syndicate had attempted to influence matches in the PSL

Pakistan batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been provisionally suspended and sent home from a Twenty20 competition being played in Dubai as part of an anti-corruption investigation, the country's cricket board has said. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was investigating whether an international syndicate had attempted to influence matches in the Pakistan Super League, it said in a statement. Both Sharjeel and Latif play for Islamabad United in the PSL, which is being played in Dubai due to security concerns in Pakistan, though the final will be staged on home soil. "Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the ICC will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport," the PCB said. Sharjeel played the opening match of the 2017 edition for defending champions Islamabad against Peshawar Zalmi, while Latif was not part of the playing XI. PSL Chairman Najam Sethi said in a statement that they were working with PCB`s and International Cricket Council`s anti-corruption units to root out corruption. "The investigation of the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit backed by the ICC ACU has been effective in dealing with this case to date and we will continue to work in the closest collaboration as the investigation proceeds," he said. "We are all absolutely committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who would seek to damage the integrity of our sport." Sharjeel is a regular member of Pakistan`s limited-overs team and made his test debut against Australia in Sydney last month, while Latif has played five one-day internationals and 13 T20 matches. (Reuters)

Cricket: Pakistan suspend Sharjeel, Latif in corruption probe