The PCB is worried that the increase in Indian franchise T20 league funding may prevent their players from taking advantage of opportunities to advance abroad.
There was not a single Pakistani player in the inaugural SA20 auction, which featured all six teams being purchased by IPL franchise owners. Five of the six clubs in the new ILT20 tournament in the UAE are owned by Indians, while the single Pakistani player, Azam Khan, has signed with the American-owned Desert Vipers.
IPL has been a dominating force in franchise-based cricket since its inception. Now that other countries are announcing their leagues like South Africa, UAE, and Caribbean islands. Now the PCB is concerned as Pakistani players are banned from featuring in the Indian Premier League due to political tensions between neighboring countries. Although there isn’t a formal ban prohibiting Pakistani players from playing for those countries, their participation would be limited by Future Tours Programme obligations (they have home series against New Zealand and the West Indies scheduled for early 2023).
However, Ramiz Raja, the chair of the PCB, has expressed his worries to his colleagues about the possibility that Pakistani players won’t be allowed to play around the world due to the recent rise in the number of franchises owned by Indian investors.
There have also been early discussions with other boards discussing the potential for reciprocal NOC agreements, wherein other boards would allow its players to participate in the PSL in exchange for the PCB issuing NOCs to play in other leagues.
Azam is playing for the Barbados Royals in the current CPL (owned by Manoj Badale of the Rajasthan Royals), and Fatima Sana played for their women’s team earlier this year. Both of these teams have Indian owners. Others including Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Hasnain, have played for Trinbago Knight Riders, owned by the Red Chillies Entertainment group, which also owns Kolkata Knight Riders.
Regardless of the good rapport Ramiz and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly have. A substantial geopolitical movement would probably be necessary for a change in position.
The rise of the SA20 and the ILT20 may also have a big effect on the PSL. Despite not directly competing with the PSL, the leagues pay their players well; this is especially true in the UAE, where top international athletes can make up to USD 450,000.
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Since the PSL pays its players from abroad in dollars, another significant issue is the weakening of the Pakistani rupee against the US currency. Players making the same wage in 2022 and 2023 may wind up costing the league substantially more money in actual terms.
Although the PCB is hoping that several top international players will still compete in the PSL.
In 2019, they are viewed as the “garnish” that will be added to a burgeoning pool of local talent: Since Pakistan does not participate in any international cricket during the PSL’s March window, its star players are completely available.
