The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) brushed aside concerns over overseas players’ travel plans for the Pakistan Super League, despite the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. The tournament is still expected to feature a strong overseas contingent, including a notable Australian presence.
A PCB source dismissed reports suggesting the Australian players were hesitant to travel to Pakistan due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the US. problems on the country’s border with neighboring Afghanistan.
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“All travel arrangements and plans are in place and all the Australian players who have signed for PSL 11 will start arriving from next week,” the source said.
Several Australian players have registered for the PSL, including Steve Smith, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle, Aaron Hardie, Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton Turner, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Philippe, Riley Meredith and Ben McDermott.
An earlier report in Code Sports claimed that Australian players were unlikely to feature in PSL 2026, citing security and scheduling issues. It has also been reported that rising tensions regarding Pakistan and neighboring regions have sparked serious internal discussions, with players reportedly being briefed on potential security risks, travel disruptions and conflict-related complications.
The main point of interest was the scheduled PSL match in Peshawar, a city currently under the Australian government’s “Do Not Travel” advisory due to security threats. The Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, located roughly 40 to 50 kilometers from the Afghanistan border, will now host two matches on Saturday, March 28.
The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to begin on Thursday, March 26, and another action-packed season is expected to feature top domestic stars alongside a strong pool of talent from overseas. The tournament will kick off at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where Lahore Qalandars will take on the Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.
For the first time, the PSL will feature eight teams instead of six. It will also overlap with the Indian Premier League for the second consecutive year, with the IPL starting two days later on March 28.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
17 March 2026 19:50 IST
