The Pakistan Cricket Board has come out very clearly on the winner of season five of PSL, stating it will be decided once the tournament is completed, quashing any hopes of Multan Sultans of being crowned champions courtesy of finishing top in the league phase. 

According to reports, PCB and franchise officials held a video conference to examine possible options regarding the tournament, which was postponed indefinitely just over two weeks ago due to COVID-19 outbreak. 

Multan Sultans have been pushing for the PCB to declare them winners since they finished top of the points table at the end of the league phase, an idea which was further pushed by Ali Tareen in the meeting.

COO of PCB Salman Naseer, slashed any hopes of Sultans, telling them that the board intends on resuming the tournament to avoid the financial cost arising from the loss of broadcasting and gate monies. 

The board mentioned that they are looking at possible window to play the remaining games either side of the Zimbabwe series in November or December. 

Depending on the number of days found as a window to play, PCB will decide whether to revert to the original play-off system or the changed version of semi-finals instead.

When confronted by a Sultan represented that according to PSL rules, the team at the top is to be named the winner, PCB COO hit back with the clarification of the rules. 

“It was due to the misinterpretation of the law and that the rule could be applied only in case the winner could not be found,” he said. 

Moreover, COO told Multan Sultans that the tournament rules do not say anything about pandemic postponing the PSL.

There was even the idea of the tournament prize being donated to the corona virus relief fund but that was quickly shot down as the players’ had right over it rather than the board or the franchises making decisions on behalf of the players.