No hay DRS en los playoffs de PSL 2025, ya que un proveedor se negó a regresar después

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) was struggling with crowds and foreign player availability even before it was halted due to tensions between India and Pakistan. Clashing with the Indian Premier League (IPL) meant that many top players won’t be available to them.

But things have gotten worse since the PSL 2025 restarted on May 17. Just 8 matches were to be concluded. But convincing foreign players to return wasn’t going to be easy, especially after learning how Tom Curran and Daryl Mitchell felt. Soon we learnt that Kyle Jamieson and Kusal Mendis are ditching their team, the Quetta Gladiators, for an IPL gig.

This watered down the quality of cricket just before the PSL 2025 playoffs could begin. Gladiators, who had qualified for the final four, could fail to lift the trophy due to their foreign players’ unavailability. But it turns out other things won’t be available either.

The Decision Review System (DRS) wasn’t available in the four group stage matches. And in the Qualifier 1 match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, it won’t be available either. In fact, the PSL 2025 Final won’t have DRS either.

That’s because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t been able to convince the Hawk-Eye crew, who only know how to use the technology, to return to Pakistan. Due to the tensions at the border with India, the PCB sent all those involved with the PSL back home.

This was something that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did as well. And many foreigners decided they won’t return. Players like Mitchell Starc and Jake Fraser-McGurk didn’t return for the IPL, and the Hawk-Eye crew aren’t returning for the PSL.

We have seen how important DRS has become in the modern game. One wrong decision can flip the game. But teams can’t challenge the umpires in the PSL. That too with the trophy on the line. PCB can expect some backlash every time a decision goes wrong.