Shaheen Afridi with Fakhar Zaman© X/Twitter
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued fresh guidelines to all Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises after a breach of security protocol occurred at a team hotel, making it clear that any further violations will not be tolerated. Soon after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who is playing for Lahore Qalandars, posted on social media that he was thankful to the board for allowing him to meet his family members at the team hotel, the PCB sent an email to all eight franchises and other officials.
The PCB informed the franchises in the email that no player or official can meet family members at the team hotel without first obtaining permission from the board at least 24 hours in advance, according to reliable sources.
“The board has made it clear that anyone wanting to meet family members at the hotel has to seek permission 24 hours before the intended visit,” said a source close to the PCB.
The source said the board had further clarified that it would try to arrange a suitable meeting point for the players with their family members at the team hotel.
“The board has also made it clear that only a player’s wife, parents, brother and sister are allowed inside the player’s 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 at 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 PCB’s security manager and anti-corruption head are also learnt to have conveyed their concerns about the breach to PSL CEO Salman Naseer.