New Delhi: Who is to blame for empty stadiums in Pakistan during their T20 franchise PSL? According to PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, it is India. Even Pakistanis are confused.
When asked why the stadiums were empty, Naqvi deflected the question and instead, in a weird move, put the blame on India. Speaking to reporters during a recent league match, Naqvi said, “Pakistan’s effort is to establish peace. There is a petrol shortage in India, whereas there is no such issue in Pakistan.”
A confused X user, Sheraz Akhter, wrote: “There is no issue in Pakistan but crowds are not allowed here but allowed in India?”
Pakistan has seen petrol and diesel prices surge by more than 40 per cent in recent weeks, alongside sharp increases in electricity tariffs.
A report in The Express Tribune on Monday stated that Pakistani officials have introduced rationing measures for natural gas, limiting availability to two daily windows, typically during morning and evening hours, as authorities struggle to maintain consistent gas pressure.
The decision to hold PSL matches behind closed doors reflects the intersection of sport and broader national challenges. Franchise owners, including those of Karachi Kings, have reportedly pressed for the return of fans, highlighting the financial and cultural importance of packed stadiums in Pakistan’s premier T20 tournament.
In March, the PCB chief announced that PSL will happen behind closed doors amid a fuel shortage due to the escalating West Asian war, adding that the franchise will be held in a scaled-down manner. However, now he seems to have changed his stance.
“Today I had a discussion with PSL team owners and PSL teams,” Naqvi said. “Even Karachi (Kings) have requested, so I will meet the PM and request him again about what is possible, but we need to understand what the scenario is in the world, the oil crisis,” Naqvi said.
In response to this, a Pakistan X user Talha Ahmed wrote, “Not sure about the petrol comparison bro, but fans in stadiums is what cricket needs right now”.
Also read: Pakistani journalists miffed over lack of access during peace talks — ‘control was maintained’
Pakistan’s energy crisis
Residents in Karachi and across Punjab are facing worsening disruptions to daily life as gas shortages and power cuts intensify, sparking public anger and political criticism.
In Karachi, unannounced gas outages over the past two weeks have disrupted cooking routines, especially during peak meal hours.
The Sui Southern Gas Company said it was maintaining supply during key meal times and balancing limited resources across sectors.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, electricity shortages have worsened, particularly in rural areas served by the Multan Electric Power Company, where outages in some areas stretch up to 16 hours a day. Cities like Lahore and Faisalabad have seen shorter but still frequent cuts.
Officials attribute the power crisis in part to reduced gas supply to power plants, compounded by a temporary halt in liquefied natural gas imports, further straining the country’s already fragile energy system.
Pakistan has three main sources for its energy supply: A declining domestic production of natural gas (around 2,700 million cubic feet per day), imported LNG from Qatar, and bottled LPG, most of which comes from Iran. The supplies of both imported LNG and LPG are now disrupted.
Since 2015, Pakistan has relied heavily on LNG, primarily from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which together account for nearly all imports. LNG now fuels over a fifth of the country’s electricity. But shipments have sharply declined from up to 12 per month earlier this year to just two in March, while prices have risen significantly.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)