As part of its expansion ambitions for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Pakistan Cricket Board has begun on a roadshow ahead of the upcoming edition, during which two new franchises will join the existing six teams. The franchise rights for the new sides will be given at an auction in Islamabad on January 8. The roadshow has reached its second destination, the Plaza Hotel’s Oak Room.
Currently, all PSL franchises are owned by Pakistan-based individuals or consortiums.
However, the addition of two more teams is intended to attract foreign investment, notably from the Pakistani diaspora, with the purpose of expanding the league’s global reach. PSL CEO Salman Naseer claimed that potential investors expressed considerable interest, leading planners to repeat the pitch after the space was initially reserved. A similar investor-focused event had been held at Lord’s Cricket Ground a few days before.
“Over the last 10 years the focus has been Pakistan because we were trying to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and the PSL was a tool for doing that. The next decade is about making it a global league… The majority interest is from overseas Pakistanis looking to re-connect, some investment hedge funds, some private equity funds were also interested, and they also want to explore larger opportunities. But at the moment, we are looking at two teams and commercial rights,” said PSL CEO as quoted by Wisden.com.
“I think what we’re trying to put out there and what is true, is that Pakistan is open for business. And the narrative around Pakistani cricket has now changed: It’s not about surviving, it’s about thriving,” he added.
The PSL began a decade ago as a five-team competition at a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL) had already established itself as a dominant force in world cricket. Due to security concerns, all matches in the inaugural season were staged in the UAE, and it took another five years before the league was able to host an entire edition on home soil in Pakistan.
“We have to make it the best league in the world. With foreign players participating, a huge Pakistani diaspora outside of Pakistan, the aim was that if we are going to make it the best in the world then it has to have a global outlook. We are a cricket nation who are so passionate about the sport that it’s almost a religion. You don’t just own a franchise when you buy a team, you are the most talked about person out of 250 million people,” said Naseer.
Pakistan players do not feature in the IPL, and stricter regulations on No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have further limited opportunities for the country’s leading stars to participate in overseas leagues. While the IPL continues to act as the primary gateway for the world’s top overseas players, its recently tightened policies regarding late withdrawals by overseas cricketers could work in the PSL’s favour, particularly if the two leagues continue to operate in direct competition.
“I think it still is [a more attractive option than the IPL]. The unique selling point of our league is the fact that it’s short and sweet, and it peaks at the right time and concludes thereafter, so it provides an option to definitely compete rather than sitting on the bench. It provides relatively decent remuneration if you look at it per match value rather than collective data,” said Naseer.
While the meetings held in London and New York this month outlined ambitious objectives, the expansion remains rooted in a distinctly Pakistani product. Ultimately, the success of the league will be judged by its ability to serve as a breeding ground for young T20 talent in Pakistan and strengthen the country’s domestic cricket ecosystem.
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