LAHORE: Keeping the ICC Champions Trophy and a home series against New Zealand in view, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday proposed to the franchises of the HBL Pakistan Super League to hold next year’s edition of PSL from April 7 to May 20, potentially bringing its flagship T20 event to coincide with the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

These proposals were presented during the PSL general council which was held under PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan is scheduled to host the eight-nation Champions Trophy next year during February-March, which is the window for the PSL, next year.

On Saturday, the PCB also proposed to hold the play-offs and final matches of the PSL 2025, the league’s 10th edition, either in the UK or Australia, while anticipating more revenues by staging the games there.

Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi will continue to stage PSL games in Pakistan, as the PCB is not looking to add any more venues despite promising to expand the league to Peshawar, Faisalabad, Quetta and Hyderabad.

Sources in the PSL franchises said while the owners of three out of the six teams had agreed on staging the playoffs and the final outside Pakistan, questions were raised by the other three on the proposals.

“[Only] time will tell the pros and cons of holding the play-off games and finals at off-shore venues, as these matches are the core of the PSL and taking it away from the Pakistani public will not be easy,” one of the sources in the franchises told Dawn.

The PCB, the source further said, told the franchises that world’s several top players, who could not get a place in any team for this year’s IPL, would definitely be available for the PSL 2025.

Moreover, it was also highlighted that as the Pakistani players were not allowed to play the IPL, they could not get quality cricket during the action time of the Indian league. The ongoing edition of the IPL started on March 22 and will conclude on May 26.

“If the PCB during the IPL window organises a series with any country, the main players of the touring team will not be available as happened last month when New Zealand sent their second-string T20 side to Pakistan. For this reason, our players are not getting quality [international] cricket during the IPL [time of] action. Therefore, by holding the PSL during the IPL dates, Pakistan players will remain busy in quality cricket,” the sources elaborated.

“To ensure the availability of maximum number of quality players for the PSL, the player draft will also be held after the IPL draft, as by that time all the players, not picked for the Indian league, will be ready to compete in the PSL,” sources added.

Moreover, the PCB also asked the franchises to secure at least one top-level foreign player for their team before August this year. In this regard, the PCB will also contribute from its own funds which were generated from the sale of increased media rights for the last PSL edition.

According to sources, the proposals on holding next year’s PSL will be discussed thoroughly.

“More discussions will be held on the new proposals and when all the stakeholders come on the same page, the final decisions will be taken.”

ECB, CA OFFERS

Sources further revealed that said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) had informally offered the PCB to host some matches of the PSL 2025.

“If all the stakeholders [of the PSL] reach consensus these two boards [ECB and CA] will be contacted for further discussion,” they said.

“The ECB has offered to host the PSL matches in Birmingham, Manchester and at The Oval [London].”

The PCB needs to changes dates for the PSL, as it also has to host New Zealand and the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy during February-March next year.

“[In this situation] the best window available to the PCB [for holding the PSL] is April 7-May 20 while the second available option is September but it is only a three-week slot,” sources said.

“It is not possible to hold 34 [league] matches in three weeks without holding a good number of double headers, which may cause fitness problems for players.”

Meanwhile, the PCB also issued a press release highlighting some success it gained while hosting the PSL 2024.

“The PCB and its six franchisees, in the build-up to their General Council meeting, met on Saturday at the Gaddafi Stadium to reflect on the Pakistan Super League 2024 and also to look ahead to the PSL 2025,” read the press release.

“The PCB praised the franchisees for their support, interest and passion that has continued to contribute to enhancing and strengthening the profile and reputation of the league as one of the most challenging, competitive, and exciting. The franchise owners congratulated the PCB for the excellent delivery of the tournament.”

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024