Herschelle Gibbs coming to Pakistan despite BCCI threats, says KPL chief
August 02, 2021
ISLAMABAD: President Kashmir Premier League (KPL) Arif Malik Monday said that former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs is coming to Pakistan despite threats from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Malik said that India should understand that players are coming to play cricket in the KPL, adding that this is not politics.
"Herschelle Gibbs is coming to Pakistan despite threats [from the BCCI]," he said, adding that India also stopped international commentators from participating in the KPL and that the league is trying to bring in more foreign players for the tournament.
He hoped the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not block players' NOC for the tournament.
The KPL chief said people in Indian Occupied Kashmir are also excited about the tournament and said that the league is working to ensure they can also catch the action live on TV.
The BCCI has threatened international players from participating in the KPL, saying that future opportunities concerning cricket will be closed for them in India if they play in the KPL.
Following the development, the South African cricketer took to Twitter and slammed the BCCI for stopping him.
Sanctioned by the PCB, the KPL is a T20 format, mega cricketing event, aimed at promoting Kashmir’s importance and talent at the global level.
Six teams are participating in the tournament, namely the Bagh Stallions, Mirpur Royals, Overseas Warriors, Muzaffarabad Tigers, Rawlakot Hawks and Kotli Lions.
Matches are being played at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
KPL 2021 schedule
Meanwhile, the KPL management has issued the schedule for the tournament starting August 6.
According to details, the first match will be played between Rawlakot Hawks and Kotli Lions while Bagh Stallions and Kotli Lions will be in action on August 7.
The first qualifier match of the KPL will be played on August 14.
Eliminator one and two are scheduled for August 15 and 16 while the final match of the tournament will be played on the 17th.
All the matches are day and night fixtures and will be aired on Geo Super live.
| Date | Time | Match |
| August 6 | 8:30pm | Mirpur Royals vs Rawlakot Hawks |
| August 7 | 2:00pm | Bagh Stallions vs Kotli Lions |
| August 7 | 7:30pm | Overseas Warriors vs Muzaffarabad Tigers |
| August 8 | 2:00pm | Mirpur Royals vs Bagh Stallions |
| August 8 | 7:30pm | Rawlakot Hawks vs Kotli Lions |
| August 9 | 2:00pm | Overseas Warriors vs Mirpur Royals |
| August 9 | 7:30pm | Rawlakot Hawks vs Muzaffarabad Tigers |
| August 10 | 2:00pm | Muzaffarabad Tigers vs Kotli Lions |
| August 10 | 7:30pm | Bagh Stallions vs Overseas Warriors |
| August 11 | 2:00pm | Rawlakot Hawks vs Bagh Stallions |
| August 11 | 7:30pm | Kotli Lions vs Mirpur Royals |
| August 12 | 10am | Bagh Stallions vs Muzaffarabad Tigers |
| August 12 | 3:00pm | Rawlakot Hawks vs Overseas Warriors |
| August 13 | 2:00pm | Overseas Warriors vs Kotli Lions |
| August 13 | 7:30pm | Muzaffarabad Tigers vs Mirpur Royals |
| August 14 | 4:00pm | Qualifier (Team 1 vs Team 2) |
| August 15 | 4:00pm | Eliminator 1 (Team 3 vs Team 4) |
| August 16 | 4:00pm | Eliminator 2 (Loser of Qualifier vs winner of Eliminator 1) |
| August 17 | 4:00pm | Final (Loser of Qualifier vs winner of Eliminator 1) |
