The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will proceed without the Decision Review System (DRS) for the rest of the tournament. This situation arose because the Hawk-Eye team, responsible for the technology, has not returned to Pakistan following the league’s resumption. Initially, the PSL was paused earlier in May due to rising border tensions between Pakistan and India.
Since its introduction in 2017, DRS was a regular feature in the PSL. However, since the league’s restart, five matches have proceeded without any significant incident or controversy concerning its absence. Neither the Pakistan Super League nor the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made an official statement regarding why DRS is unavailable. ESPNcricinfo has attempted to contact both organisations for comment.
The tense political climate that led to the PSL’s suspension complicated the scheduling, imposing significant logistical hurdles. The production team had to extend their stay by an additional week, and adjustments such as relocating a match from Multan to Lahore were necessary to limit travel and movement of camera equipment. Additionally, the series between Pakistan and Bangladesh, initially set to start on the same day as the PSL final, has been postponed by three days and reduced to three games from the original five.
This Thursday, Karachi Kings will clash with Lahore Qalandars in the Eliminator at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Quetta Gladiators have already secured their spot in the final after a decisive 30-run victory over last year’s champions, Islamabad United, on Wednesday. Islamabad now faces the victor of Thursday’s match to compete for the final position alongside the Gladiators on Friday.
Danyal Rasool, ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent, commented, “The absence of DRS presents a unique scenario for PSL, yet the matches have continued without significant disruptions.” Despite the depleted format, the PSL remains a spotlight event, showcasing the resilience of global cricket in adverse circumstances.
