Pakistan Super League (PSL) was proposed and announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board a few years ago. Domestic security concerns were the real barrier for it to take place. Since then the PCB has been working very hard to make this T20 league a reality. Initially, it was decided that the PSL would be held in Qatar, since it was not possible to do so in Pakistan. But recently, the PCB announced that it will be held in United Arab Emirates, particularly in Dubai and Sharjah.
Let’s summarize the struggle of PCB behind this big event in a few lines.
PCB announced the launch of PSL for the first time in 2009, but the idea was shelved due to security issues in the country. Later in 2012, PCB hired Haroon Lorgat , a former ICC chief executive, for the planning of the big event. In 2013, the PSL’s logo was unveiled in a ceremony by PCB, which was later changed. PCB tried its best to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. They managed to bring the Zimbabwean Team to Lahore to play an ODI and a T20 series but the security concerns remain. International players still feel insecurity in Pakistan and hence the PCB had to make a decision.
After all that hard work, on 20th September 2015, Pakistan Cricket Board arranged a star-packed ceremony to launch the Pakistan Super League and display its logo. It was announced in this ceremony that inaugural session of the PSL will be played in 2016. The League will consist of five franchises representing five major cities of Pakistan: namely Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar. PCB aims to extend the number of franchises in next five years but it is not yet confirmed as the franchise owners are not permanent at the moment.
Furthermore, the PSL will use a draft system for player recruitment, similar to that of the National Football League in the United States, as opposed to the “auction” used in other T20 leagues. According to reports, about 20 parties are interested in buying the franchises, including Hier’s CEO, Javed Afridi. Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has also shown his interest in buying a PSL franchise.
The rule is that every franchise will have a 16 member squad with minimum of 12 domestic players and four foreign players. These 16 members are excluding coaching staff. The league will begin from 4th February 2016 to 24th February 2016, as proposed by PCB. It will be about 20 days long, comprising of 24 matches in total.
When talking about these leagues, one thing that everyone has on their mind is the Prize Money. Pakistan Super League will offer prize money of up to $1 million (100 million Pakistani rupees). Whereas the franchises will be allowed to draft their squads and coaching staff within a budget of $1 million.
Despite being a domestic tournament, like many other cricketing leagues in the world, PSL already has attracted many international superstars. From Pakistan, almost all the international players will be featuring in the league including Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez.
There is a list of many international players who are willing to be a part of this mega event as well. Kevin Pietersen has said in a video message at the launching ceremony that he will be a part of it as well.
He said:
“Absolutely buzzing to be a part of the Pakistani mela coming up in February. I can’t wait to get it started. It looks like it is going to be a wonderful competition. Lots of fun, lots of sixes, lots of wickets, typical T20 stuff. I am really excited to be a part of this wonderful tournament”
Other International player who we will see in the PSL include Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Jesse Ryder, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Shakib Al Hasan, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Brad Hodge, Johan Botha and a few more.
What we can conclude from the response of players and fans around the world is that we should be certain to see a very competitive and action-packed tournament next year. Pakistan Super League will certainly be a success. It may not be as big as the IPL but it will surely be an event full of entertainment, lots of sixes, hundreds of fours and many wickets.
