Pakistan’s T20 league will start without crowds and take place at only two venues because of the fuel crisis that has resulted from the US and Israel’s war with Iran.

The eight-team PSL is scheduled to take place between 26 March and 3 May.

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February and it has triggered a response that has choked off the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to take oil and gas from the Gulf to Asian countries and the rest of the world.

“The [Pakistan] Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] has requested restricted movements of people because of the fuel crisis so we have decided that the PSL (Pakistan Super League) would continue as per the original schedule but without crowds,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

“All PSL matches will now take place in Lahore and Karachi and we hope the league could be held with crowds but that would be contingent on the crisis in Iran ending.”

The decision means Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Peshawar will miss out on hosting matches.

The opening ceremony on Thursday has also been cancelled, while Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, said the PCB would compensate the franchises for the loss of revenue.

Sri Lanka has already declared every Wednesday a holiday for public institutions to conserve fuel as the island nation tries to deal with possible shortages.