March 17, 2020—cricket fans will never forget the day the sport came to a screeching halt. The Pakistan Super League (PSL), in the thick of its knockout stage, was suddenly suspended. The reason? The looming threat of COVID-19. With overseas players suspected of exposure, organizers had no choice but to postpone the semis and final, leaving fans in agonizing uncertainty.
But PSL wasn’t the only casualty. On the very same day, Australia’s premier domestic competition, the Sheffield Shield, faced an unprecedented decision—it was scrapped for the first time since World War II. Cricket, a sport that had endured wars, match-fixing scandals, and unpredictable weather, finally met an opponent it couldn’t outplay: a global pandemic.
The suspension of PSL was a gut punch, especially since the tournament was on the verge of crowning a champion. Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi were all in contention, but the virus had other plans. It wasn’t until months later, in November 2020, that Karachi Kings finally lifted their maiden PSL trophy in an empty stadium—far from the electrifying atmosphere fans had hoped for.
Meanwhile, the Sheffield Shield’s cancellation was a grim moment for Australian cricket. The tournament, a breeding ground for Test talent, had weathered many storms in its 128-year history but found itself powerless against a microscopic foe. Cricket Australia took the tough call to prioritize player safety, awarding the title to the New South Wales Blues, who had dominated the competition before its abrupt halt.
This moment in history underscored just how deeply COVID-19 disrupted sports. Stadiums fell silent, tours were postponed, and bio-bubbles became the new normal. Cricket eventually found ways to adapt, but March 17, 2020, remains a stark reminder of when the world, and the game, stood still.
