Pakistan Super League organisers remain hopeful the tournament can be played to a conclusion in Abu Dhabi this month, even though a number of logistical issues still need to be solved.
The Pakistan Cricket Board met with owners of the six franchises online on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of restarting the competition on June 7.
The PCB have put back the departure of the national team players for their tour of the UK to June 25, rather than June 23, in a bid to complete the PSL season.
The final of the tournament is now earmarked for Thursday, June 24, rather than June 20 as planned.
However, the restart date appears to be dependent on the availability of 16 production company crew, who are in isolation in Dubai.
According to the organisers, the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority will “decide on Wednesday afternoon if they will grant exemptions to 16 production crew to work in Abu Dhabi from June 5 to make a June 7 start possible”.
The seven-day isolation for those who arrived on charter flights from Karachi and Lahore – which constitutes the majority of tournament personnel – ends on Wednesday afternoon.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, meanwhile, is among six players whose arrival in the UAE was initially delayed, but has now made it to the capital.
Twenty matches are still to be played, after the competition was suspended at the start of March due to a number of positive Covid cases within the teams.
The remaining fixtures were rescheduled for June, and relocated to the UAE capital because of the Covid situation back in Pakistan.
Despite the challenges, the teams remain focused on pressing ahead with preparations for the restart.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will be the first sides to train at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, on Wednesday evening.
There has also been a personnel change for Multan Sultans, with Blessing Muzarabani, the fast bowler who excelled in international matches for Zimbabwe against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, replacing Obed McCoy of West Indies.
At the point the tournament paused back in March, four teams were tied on six points at the top of the table.
Karachi Kings lead the standings on net run rate, ahead of Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad and Lahore.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
GROUPS
Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
