KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan on Sunday announced that its premier cricket league would be held "as per schedule" but without spectators amid fuel shortages caused by the spiraling conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking at a news conference in the northeastern city of Lahore, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) would be played only in Karachi and Lahore as it scaled back from six venues to two.
The franchise-based Twenty20 league, which is set to begin on Thursday, will feature eight teams and 44 matches.
The PCB also cancelled a "grand" opening ceremony of the league featuring many international players.
“On one hand, 25,000 to 30,000 people will be gathering at stadiums, and on the other hand, we are telling people to restrict their movement," Naqvi said, referring to an austerity drive announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this month aimed at fuel-saving measures.
The government has asked the people to restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis, as it closed schools and instituted work from home.
Naqvi added that fans would be able to receive refunds for tickets, and "we apologize to them for the inconvenience."
"We don’t know how long the current situation will persist, but hosting the PSL is essential. It's an international brand, and foreign players are involved... if we had postponed the PSL, there would be no window later to hold it," he added.
The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
Iran has also effectively closed to most ships the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.