"In the present-day environment, all international sport events are going ahead because there is more awareness and information about the pandemic," PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said on the eve of Pakistan Super League.

Karachi will host the first leg of the tournament beginning on Thursday before the league moves to Lahore on February 10. Lahore will also host the playoffs and the final on February 27.

Last year the PSL was postponed in March after six players tested positive for COVID-19 in a bio-secure bubble, and the league was switched to Abu Dhabi in June.

The PCB has hired the same company for the seventh edition of its marquee event which successfully created the bio-secure arrangements in Abu Dhabi last year.

"The PCB, despite delivering 267 matches in 10 domestic events in 2021, is not taking anything for granted," Raja said. "We have designed and put in place robust health and safety protocols for the well-being of all (PSL) participants."

The virus has already caused concerns before the first game between defending champion Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings kicks off at National Stadium on Thursday.

At least three players, including Peshawar Zalmi's wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, and five support staff members tested positive last Saturday when the teams began to assemble in Karachi.

The government initially allowed full crowds in the PSL, but due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Karachi only 25 per cent of stadium capacity will be allowed, which means a crowd of around 8000.

The PCB has no plans to either postpone or cancel the event this year in case there are COVID-19 outbreaks among players. It has been planned that the league will restart after a week's break by resetting the bio-bubble from scratch.

While there are 20 players each in the six squads, in the event of any outbreaks, matches will be allowed to go ahead if 13 players are available on each side.

Despite the threat of virus surrounding the PSL, Raja sees the presence of foreign players as a positive aspect for Pakistan which is scheduled to host four major countries this year, including Australia for the first time in Pakistan since 1998.

Australia's Ben Cutting and Tim David, Johnson Charles of West Indies, New Zealand's Colin Munro, Rilee Rossouw of South Africa and Chris Jordan and Alex Hales of England are some of the foreign cricketers who will be playing in the PSL.

Pakistan won three major ICC awards last week with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan being voted ODI and T20 cricketers of 2021, respectively, and Shaheen Afridi taking the prestigious Sir Garfield award for cricketer of the year.

All three will be leading their teams in the PSL with Babar captaining Karachi Kings, Rizwan defending the title by leading Multan while Shaheen has been named as the skipper of Lahore Qalandars.

Islamabad United will be led by Shadab Khan and Quetta Gladiators -- for which legendary Shahid Afridi will be playing -- will be captained by former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Australian Associated Press