Daily Times

LAHORE: As the hype of the Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s second season has reached its peak, students are relatively unhappy with the schedule of the league as it has clashed with their final examinations that most of the schools conduct in February or March.

In Pakistan, annual examinations of all classes are held during the month of February and March. Several private schools are also holding their annual examinations for different classes, whereas annual exams for matriculation will start from March 2.

While the second season of the much-awaited PSL is being held in United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 9 to March 7, students are unhappy as their examinations are clashing with the schedule of the super league.

The PCB in 2015 announced to hold the PSL in UAE as most of the international players had refused to play cricket in Pakistan after the attack on Sri Lankan Cricket team in 2009.

Students are somewhat annoyed with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selecting the same month in which their annual examinations will be held. They said it can affect their examinations as they can’t afford to miss both PSL and their exams.

Talking to Daily Times, Adeel – a student of class 10 – seemed much sad due to the schedule of PSL. He said that the organisers of the PSL should have selected some other month for arranging the mega cricket event as their annual papers fall in this month.

Laiba, another cricket lover student of class 8, said that her parents had strictly barred her from watching TV during her exams. “This means I will not be watching my favourite player Shahif Afridi while playing,” she regretted.

Laiba said that she had assured her parents that she would prepare for exams before the cricket matches in which Shahid Afridi would be playing.

Parents too are perturbed over the situation as Rahman, father of four, said that studies of his three children would be affected by the schedule of PSL. One of my sons is appearing in matriculation exams, while two are busy in examinations of class 8 and class 5.”

He said that he had asked his children not to get involved in ‘cricket fever’, and added it is very hard to keep children from watching PSL matches.

“I have instructed them to concentrate on their exams as they can watch highlights of cricket matches once their exams are finished,” he said adding: “They will have to reappear in the exams if continue with their cricket fever and miss their papers.”

Meanwhile, Aimen, a schoolteacher, has said that she likes her students watch cricket matches but exams are also important for them. “I have told them to make a timetable and divide their preparation time and match timings,” she said.