PSL 2025 Playoffs to Proceed Without DRS - Even Hawk-Eye Didn’t Want to Return to Pakistan

In what feels like a cricketing throwback no one asked for, the Pakistan Super League 2025 Playoffs are being held without the Decision Review System - yes, in the year 2025. The reason?

The Hawk-Eye crew, responsible for powering DRS, didn't return to Pakistan after the tournament was halted due to India-Pakistan tensions. Apparently, the return flight came with too much turbulence - figuratively and geopolitically.

The PSL 2025 now finds itself operating crucial knockout matches on umpire instinct alone. No ball-tracking. No UltraEdge. Just raw, human guesswork in games that could define the season.

And it's not just the tech team that's missing. Several foreign players have also chosen not to rejoin the league, opting instead for safer pastures in leagues that can guarantee both paychecks and peace of mind. It seems the PSL's restart didn't come with enough reassurances - or security protocols to convince the international contingent.

After the tension at the border between India and Pakistan, both countries were forced to postpone their respective leagues. Although IPL 2025 has resumed flawlessly again, PSL has failed to recuperate after the hiatus.

The result? Fans will be left watching high-stakes matches where an umpiring howler could swing a season. With no DRS safety net, the fairness of these playoffs now hinges on on-field judgment alone, which, as cricket history has shown us, can be anything but infallible.

In a world where even domestic leagues are upping their tech game, the PSL being forced to go analogue during its most crucial stage is more than just a glitch - it's a glaring reflection of Pakistan, not just for their cricketing infrastructure, but as a state.

Pakistan's terrorist structures got a befitting reply from India through 'Operation Sindoor', and after that, their forces also failed to live up to the hype and succumb to India's strikes. Although the likes of Shahid Afridi and others have flexed their fake muscles after suffering major damages from the Indian armed forces, the deplorable state of their tournament as a whole depicts the condition of Pakistan.