A Pakistan-based militant group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (a faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban), has issued a stern warning to foreign players ahead of PSL 2026. It said their safety “cannot be guaranteed” and urged them to immediately withdraw from the tournament due to unstable security and unrest. In a statement issued on March 22 and confirmed to The Sunday Guardian by a senior commander on March 23, the group condemned the PSL as a “cold-blooded mockery” of the suffering of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan amid alleged military repression, disappearances and violence. It described hosting the league as “rubbing salt into the wounds” while the regions are “bleeding,” and rejected the government’s efforts to portray normalcy through cricket.
“The current internal security and political environment is very volatile…not conducive to any peaceful sporting activity,” the statement said, and players were advised to prioritize their personal safety. The group warned that if their demands were ignored, they would disrupt the matches, and said they would “do our best to ensure that the matches do not take place.”
This adds to concerns over PSL 2026 (26 March–3 May), which has already been shortened: PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on 22 March that matches would be played only behind closed doors (without spectators) in stadiums in Lahore and Karachi, and the opening ceremony had been canceled—due to fuel shortages and ongoing conflicts in West Asia (Iran–US–Israel This is a policy of expenditure reduction adopted due to tensions between India and India. Naqvi apologized to the fans, and said that if the situation improves, the tickets will be refunded later and perhaps the spectators may also be allowed to come to the stadium.
The list of players includes Australia’s David Warner, Steven Smith, Adam Zampa; England’s Moeen Ali; And includes big stars like New Zealand’s Devon Conway/Darryl Mitchell. The PCB claims to have tightened security measures, but has not directly linked the changes to the threat. With only a few days left for the first match to begin, all eyes are on the reactions of international players and cricket boards amidst the increasing risks.
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