'PCB bio-bubble a joke': Pak board faces flak as cricketers contract COVID-19 amid PSL

With a rise in COVID-19 cases in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), the country's national cricket board - PCB - has faced severe criticism over the bio-bubble put in place for the tournament to keep the virus away. After Australia's Fawad Ahmed tested COVID-19 positive on Monday, the PCB has now informed that two more overseas cricketers have contracted the virus, raising questions over the sanctity of the bio-bubble put in place. Despite the rise in cases, the board after conducting only 244 PCR tests, has decided to continue with the schedule of the tournament while continuing to allow fans inside the stadium for the games. 

Reports in Pakistan media have blamed the PCB for the Coronavirus breaching the bubble put in place. The media questioned the PCB's claim of implementing a strict bio-secure bubble for the team players and officials, their families and other stakeholders in the competition. As per reports, family members of the cricketers have been allowed into the bubble without undergoing the mandatory quarantine period. It has also come to light that the players have been interacting with various stakeholders inside the bubble amid the ongoing tournament. 

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"There are also regular events and dinners being held at the team hotel while some players are even ordering food from outside," PTI quoted a report from Pakistan media. 

Netizens have slammed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the country's national cricketing board for continuing with the tournament despite the rise in cases. Several Twitter users also raised questions over the bio-bubble while some termed it a 'joke'. Here's how they reacted: 

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PCB takes a U-turn

Earlier, the PCB had allowed veteran Pakistan speedster Wahab Riaz and Windies' all-rounder Darren Sammy to play the first match of the league despite having breached the COVID-19 protocols. Both the players had shaken hands and hugged their team owner, Javed Afridi, which was a breach of the COVID-19 protocols of the Board, as per PTI. While the PCB had put them both in three-day isolation and made it clear they would only play for their franchise after completing the isolation period and undergoing two negative tests but apparently after a threat by the team management and owner to boycott the tournament on the eve of their first match, the PCB changed its decision and allowed them to go to the ground.

"We have a strict bio-secure bubble for all teams and we have regular testing and we have now even made it mandatory for all players and officials to have PCR tests every four days. But the fact is how Fawad Ahmed tested positive we don’t know because no one can say for certain how he contracted the virus," a PCB official had said. 

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