Move to ‘co-exist’ with IPL could bring higher salaries and potential for matches abroad
Osman Samiuddin
The PCB has proposed a series of fundamental changes to the PSL, which, if approved, could include:
- Shifting the league to an April-May period from next season would mean a direct conflict with the IPL, with officials seeking to “coexist” with the IPL rather than “competing” with it. He says he is aiming for
- Additional money for franchises to sign top players outside the salary cap, including potential contracts of $300,000 or more.
- The play-offs will be played at a neutral venue, with Great Britain included as an option.
The plan was proposed on Saturday at a meeting between the board and the six franchises, a preliminary meeting ahead of the formal PSL Governing Council meeting scheduled for the end of May. The board hopes to finalize the proposal at that meeting. ESPNcricinfo understands that several franchises are in favor of this change to the schedule, while others are either undecided or opposed at this time. Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars are also believed to be among the players opposed to the move.
The PCB said in a press release that Pakistan’s upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy in February means the proposal period for PSL 10 will be from April 7 to May 20. This means that PSL 10 will be held during the same period as IPL. EPSNcricinfo outlook he was first reported in 2022.
However, ESPNcricinfo reports that the December-February period in which the PSL is currently active has become increasingly cramped, with the PSL trying to break free from clashing with not only the other four T20 leagues but also the four other T20 leagues. I understand that the PCB considers this to be a permanent switch because the A busy international cricket calendar. In contrast, the move to the April-May slot means very little full-member international cricket, only the IPL. Officials agree that while they cannot compete with IPL, they can coexist. And if, as expected, the PSL introduces two new teams from 2026, there is still a possibility that a longer season could be accommodated within that framework.
Pakistan hosts international cricket during that month (and beyond), but the weather, especially the May heat in the country, may play a role. A September slot was also mooted at the meeting, but was quickly rejected due to the limited availability and international cricket being played at the same time.
In the medium term, it would also help the PSL avoid having matches played mostly during Ramadan, as will happen next year. Ramadan, as part of the lunar calendar, begins 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, so for the next few years it will clash with PSL’s usual February to March period. Ramadan not only influences match timing and audience turnout, but is also a big window for advertising. Playing the PSL during Ramadan will impact the league’s advertising and sponsorship revenue.
At the meeting, there was discussion about holding a PSL draft after the IPL auction to give more clarity on the availability of foreign players in the league. The board circulated a list of names including Josh Hazlewood, Adil Rashid and Jason Holder as an indication of what kind of foreign players could be acquired at a meeting of unsold players from this year’s IPL auction did. They are the only league other than IPL. However, the available roster will be affected next year as the IPL mega-auction will be held.
This season’s PSL, which began amid concerns that it had been hurt by the inability or limited availability of many foreign stars, has likely contributed to that debate. At least according to PCB’s numbers, it didn’t affect ratings. The board announced that this season’s live audience was “more than 350 million”, the highest ever. This confirms that the league has built its cache over the years through the strength of local players and young talent, as well as big foreign names. Substantial loyalty has also been built, meaning viewership is not unduly influenced by the presence or quality of foreign names.
PCB also plans to attract bigger foreign artists by allocating a portion of its media rights revenue to franchises, allowing them to exceed the current salary cap. The Board announced a 45% increase in PSL media rights from the previous cycle, including a 113% increase in live streaming rights and a 41% increase in international media rights. That could potentially offer certain players more than $300,000 in compensation for a relatively light schedule of at least 10 games through next year. Previously, the maximum annual salary paid to a foreign player in the PSL was approximately $220,000 (including commercial add-ons).
Officials said holding the playoffs at overseas venues is also being considered to expand the league’s international footprint. The UK, UAE and Australia were also among the destinations discussed at the conference. Given that the event will be held from April to May, the UK is realistically the only option. Edgbaston, Old Trafford and The Oval have been suggested as potential venues where PSL matches could draw a healthy crowd. PCB has not contacted any boards at this time and is waiting to see what the franchise has to say at the end of the month before taking this idea further.
The franchise’s response will ultimately determine the fate of the proposal, as new PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has called for greater certainty in league schedules and the need to avoid conflicts with international cricket. This was the trigger for me. That was the goal clearly stated at the meeting.
The public reaction from Ali Naqvi, owner of Islamabad United, the reigning champions and the most successful franchise in the league, was particularly cautious. “We need to continue the discussion and find ways and options so that we can jointly achieve our overarching goals,” he said.
Osman Samiuddin is a senior editor at ESPNcricinfo
