PSL a cruel mockery of our suffering: TTP's chilling warning to foreign players Rebel groups in Pakistan have issued a warning to international cricketers to withdraw from the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), casting the 11th edition of the tournament in a security crisis just days before its start on March 26. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, issued an "advisory" through its spokesperson, Asad Mansoor, framing the T20 league as a “cruel mockery” of the suffering in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The group claimed that the safety of international players cannot be guaranteed amid the volatile security situation in the country. The TTP statement warned that the tournament’s “organised spectacle” would undermine the dignity of the people and risk overshadowing the “blood of the oppressed” with the “lights of a stadium.” It emphasized that in a climate marked by military operations and civil unrest, the safety of athletes could not be assured. The group urged international players to prioritize their personal security and withdraw from the event. This threat comes amid heightened tensions in Pakistan, where rebel activity has escalated, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to restrict the PSL to two venues—Karachi and Lahore—and ban spectators. Despite the ultimatum from the TTP, the PCB has stated that the tournament will proceed as scheduled. The decision has raised concerns about the safety of participants and the broader implications of hosting the league amid ongoing security challenges. The TTP’s warning highlights the growing intersection of cricket and geopolitics in Pakistan, where the sport has become a focal point of national pride and political discourse.#pakistan_cricket_board #pakistan_super_league #jamaatulahrar #tehriketaliban_pakistan #asad_mansoor
Terror threat rocks Pakistan's PSL: Foreign players asked to 'withdraw immediately' The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), scheduled to begin on March 26, faces significant uncertainty after a warning was issued by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to foreign players urging them to withdraw from the tournament. The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the group has advised overseas athletes to leave immediately, citing security concerns. This development follows a decision by the league to limit matches to closed-door events in Karachi and Lahore amid ongoing security challenges linked to the West Asia situation. A Pakistan-based X account, “Islamabad Post,” shared a statement attributed to the TTP faction, which warned foreign players to “prioritize your personal security and withdraw from the tournament immediately.” The statement condemned the PSL’s continuation amid widespread suffering in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where military operations and state violence have caused significant hardship. It criticized the league for hosting cricket matches while civilians endure “unprecedented hardships,” calling the event a “cruel mockery” of the region’s struggles. The group emphasized that the current security and political climate in Pakistan is “volatile and precarious,” making it impossible to guarantee the safety of international athletes. It reiterated its stance that the timing of the tournament is inappropriate, arguing that promoting “normalcy” through sports while state-sponsored violence persists is hypocritical. The statement also rejected the idea of using cricket as a tool for political optics, stating that the bloodshed of the oppressed should not be overshadowed by stadium lights.#pakistan_super_league #jamaatulahrar #tehriketaliban_pakistan #multan_sultans #mohsin_naqvi
David Warner, Steve Smith, Others Threatened By Armed Group In Pakistan, Asked To Leave PSL A Pakistan-based armed group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has issued a public warning to international cricket players, including Australia’s David Warner and Steve Smith, urging them to avoid participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The group claimed that the security situation in Pakistan is too volatile to host a high-profile tournament involving foreign athletes, and threatened to disrupt the event if players ignore their demands. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously announced plans to host the 2026 PSL in two undisclosed cities behind closed doors, citing the ongoing West Asia conflict and rising fuel prices as key factors. However, recent reports suggest that the decision may be influenced by additional pressures, including the threats from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The group’s statement emphasized that overseas players’ safety cannot be guaranteed if they travel to Pakistan for the tournament, with a commander of the group stating that the organization would take action to prevent matches from taking place. The commander of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told The Sunday Guardian that the group is not opposed to cricket as a sport but is concerned about the risks posed by the current security environment. “We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility,” the commander said. He added that the group would do “whatever is in our capacity” to ensure the tournament is disrupted if players proceed. The 2026 PSL will feature several high-profile international players, including Warner, Smith, and Adam Zampa from Australia, as well as England’s Moeen Ali and New Zealand’s Devon Conway.#pakistan_cricket_board #pakistan_super_league #steve_smith #jamaatulahrar #david_warner
