PSL 2021: PCB denies reports of Peshawar Zalmi threatening to boycott match

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan on Thursday dismissed the reports that Peshawar Zalmi threatened to boycott their first match in HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 after members of their squad were quarantined last week, Geo News reported.

“Zalmi did not threaten to boycott the match,” Wasim confirmed while speaking to media, adding that players had met team owner Javed Afridi who also tested negative for coronavirus.

Earlier on Friday, Zalmi’s coach Darren Sammy and captain Wahab Riaz had breached the Covid-19 protocols by meeting Afridi, who was not part of the bio-secure bubble, following which the two were sent into isolation for an indefinite period of time.

However, the duo was allowed to reintegrate with the squad ahead of their first encounter against Lahore Qalandars on Sunday after PCB confirmed that they returned two negative tests.

Some media reports, on the other hand, suggested that the Zalmi franchise had threatened not to leave the hotel without their coach and captain, hence, forcing PCB into making that decision.

The matter is also reported to be discussed during the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on February 27.

Read: PCB to review Peshawar Zalmi bubble breach at BoG meeting