PSL 2021: Peshawar Zalmi did not threaten to boycott match, says PCB CEO

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday clarified that Peshawar Zalmi did not threaten to boycott their Pakistan Super League (PSL) match over the Wahab Riaz and Darren Sammy issue.

PCB CEO Wasim Khan said that Peshawar Zalmi players had met Javed Afridi who tested negative for coronavirus.

"Zalmi did not threaten to boycott the match," he said.

The statement from the PCB official came after the PSL management allowed to integrate Zlami’s skipper and head coach with the squad after they were quarantined due to COVID-19 violation before their opening match last week.

According to media reports, Zalmi had threatened not to leave the hotel on Sunday without Darren Sammy and Wahab Riaz after the two were quarantined for breaching bio-secure protocol.

The matter, the report said, would also be discussed during the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on February 27.

Earlier on Sunday, just ahead of their opener against Lahore Qalandars Peshawar Zalmi got a relief when Sammy and Riaz were allowed after the PCB accepted the team’s appeal regarding Friday’s biosecure breach.

“Appeal on a player and official guilty of breaching bio-secure bubble on Friday, has been accepted,” the PCB had said in a press release.

“The two have been allowed to integrate with the side. The team has offered its regrets to the PCB on Friday’s breach and has thanked the PSL ETC for accepting their appeal. They have further assured protocols will be followed and respected as everyone wants the PSL to succeed,” it noted.