Social media posts falsely claim PSL cricket matches will resume in coming days

Dunya News

Social media posts falsely claim PSL cricket matches will resume in coming days

(AFP) - Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim that the Pakistan Super League 6 cricket tournament, which was postponed after seven players tested positive for Covid-19, will resume on March 11, 2021. The claim is false: as of March 9, 2021, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet announced any date to resume the tournament, but said that the remaining matches will be held before the end of the year.

The claim was published in a text graphic on Facebook on March 4, 2021.

The graphic, which bears the logo of the Pakistan Super League 6 (PSL), reads: “Congratulations PSL Fans. PSL 6 will Start from 11 March… Officiall PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] News.”

The Facebook post’s caption reads: “Big News.”

Posts with similar claims were also published on Facebook and on Twitter.

The claim, however, is false.

In a press conference on March 4, 2021, the PCB’s Chief Executive Wasim Khan said that a date to resume the tournament has not yet been decided, but that matches will be held before the end of the year.

"We will try to find a window to complete the remaining matches before the end of the year," Khan told the press, as AFP reported.

As of March 9, 2021, there are no credible media reports or PCB statements to suggest the tournament will resume on March 11, 2021.

ESPNcricinfo, a cricket news website, reported that the tournament is likely to resume in May 2021.