India, May 13 -- Punjab Kings issued a strong statement late on Tuesday night amid growing social media discussion surrounding the franchise and some of its players. While the team did not directly address the rumours, it firmly urged people to refrain from spreading misinformation through an official post on its social media handles. The franchise later deleted the statement and reposted it with a few tweaks, seemingly to avoid further controversy.

Punjab had enjoyed a dream start to the tournament, remaining unbeaten in their first seven matches with six wins, while one game ended without a result due to rain. Their aggressive brand of cricket and consistent performances quickly made them one of the standout teams this season. However,...