Cricket

PCB Cancels National Women's Championship Due to Fire IncidentThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was forced to abruptly end the National Women's Championship in Karachi on Monday after a fire broke out in the team hotel, narrowly missing five players.According to a PCB statement, the incident occurred when only five players were present in the hotel. The PCB swiftly evacuated them to the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre, ensuring their safety.The PCB explored alternative accommodations for the teams, but due to the ongoing Ideas Defence Exhibition in Karachi, no suitable hotels were available. The board prioritized the health and safety of the players, leading to the decision to cancel the tournament."The unavailability of alternative accommodations to meet the approximately 100 rooms of the required standards contributed to this outcome," the PCB statement explained.To determine the tournament winner, the PCB announced that the Invincibles and the Stars, the top two teams after four matches each, will face off in the final. The date and venue for the final will be announced later.The PCB expressed relief that no players were injured in the incident and thanked the hotel staff for their prompt response. The board also apologized for any inconvenience caused to the teams and fans.