Despite the ultimatum, the PCB maintained that the tournament would go ahead as planned. (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: Insurgent groups in Pakistan have warned international cricketers to withdraw immediately from the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), throwing the 11th edition of the tournament into a security crisis days before it begins on March 26.A statement issued by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Asad Mansoor framed the T20 league as a “cruel mockery” of the suffering in regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
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Axar Patel questions Impact Player rule: ‘All-rounders lose value’An “advisor” of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has warned international cricketers to pull out of the PSL, saying the safety of international players cannot be guaranteed given the current volatile and insecure security situation.The group claimed that they would not allow “people’s dignity to be compromised for political optics” nor would they allow “the blood of the oppressed to be overshadowed by the lights of the stadium”.“In a climate where military operations and civil unrest dominate large parts of the territory, the safety of international athletes cannot be guaranteed. Given these dire circumstances, we strongly advise you to prioritize your personal safety and withdraw. The PSL organized spectacle serves as a cruel mockery of our suffering,” it said.The threat comes at a sensitive time as Pakistan has been embroiled in escalating rebel activities, leading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to restrict the tournament to just two venues, Karachi and Lahore, and also prevent spectators from entering.Despite the ultimatum, the PCB maintained that the tournament would go ahead as planned.
