RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has exempted 29 British and South African citizens — the international cricket players and support staff — from the requirement of getting tested for coronavirus before travelling to Pakistan while other conditions will be fulfilled here after their arrival.

The CAA approved the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s request in this regard for facilitating the participation of international players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T-20 cricket league, beginning on February 15.

The sixth edition of PSL T-20 cricket matches will be played in Karachi and Lahore.

29 players, staffers to complete post-travel SOPs regarding Covid

The CAA has placed six countries — the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands — in C-category countries. International travellers from the countries in the C category are restricted and only allowed with certain conditions as per guideline of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for Covid-19.

The aviation authority said the approval for inbound travellers from the C-category countries was subject to the condition that the passengers would complete PCR testing, mandatory quarantine and other formalities specified by the health authorities upon their arrival here. Therefore, the international players and support staff from the UK and South Africa would also be subjected to PCR testing, mandatory quarantine and other stipulations as specified by the Pakistani health authorities.

As per their intended travel itineraries, the players and staff will be arriving by Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines flights.

At the same time, the CAA said, SOPs issued regarding coronavirus on January 29 had been extended till February 28.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2021