Kamal Ghorui
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued fresh directives to all Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises following a breach of security protocols at a team hotel, making it clear that any further violations will not be tolerated.The move came after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, currently representing Lahore Qalandars, shared on social media that he was grateful to the PCB for allowing him to meet his family at the team hotel.In response, the PCB sent an official communication to all franchises and stakeholders, stating that players and team officials are not permitted to meet family members at the team hotel without prior approval. The board has mandated that any such requests must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance. “The Board has made it clear that anyone wanting to meet with family members in the hotel has to seek permission 24 hours before the intended visit by family members,” said the source who is close to the PCB. He said the Board had further clarified that it would try to arrange a suitable meeting point for the player (s) with their family members in the team hotel. “The Board has also made it clear that only a player’s wife, parents, brother and sister are allowed inside the players room, that too after getting clearance from the Board 24 hours in advance,” the source added. He said senior police officials had taken a serious view of the security protocol breach by Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sikandar last Saturday night when four guests were found in the latter’s room late night. “The police officials conveyed to the Board that unless all franchises adhere strictly to the security protocols, it will be impossible for them to provide a safe and secure environment at the team hotel for all players and officials.” The security manager and anti-corruption head of the PCB is also learnt to have conveyed his concerns about the breach to the PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
