The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to delay the home series against the West Indies, which was supposed to start in February 2024. The goal of this move is to make room for the next season of the Pakistan Super League, which is set to start at the same time.
Reports say that Najam Sethi, who is in charge of the PCB, has also asked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to change the next ILT20 (International League T20) so that it doesn’t conflict with the PSL.
Notably, according to the ICC’s Future Tour Programmes (FTP), Pakistan is set to play the West Indies for two Tests and three ODIs in the beginning of 2024. Reports also say that Pakistan’s cricket governing body thought about giving up the home series to protect the PSL. However, they are currently talking with several parties about the future of both the bilateral series and the next PSL season.
If Pakistan plans to host the series after the PSL is over, many West Indies players may choose not to play because it will directly conflict with the 17th IPL season. When New Zealand went to Pakistan in April and May 2023, the same thing happened because many players were busy with the IPL and couldn’t be picked. If the star players on the travelling team don’t show up, this could hurt their income in the long run.
On the other hand, ESPNcricinfo says that the PCB is planning to make a deal with the ECB in which they will let the Pakistan players play in the second edition of the ILT20 if the organising committee plans to finish the tournament ten days before the PSL, which is said to start on February 12.
The plan is also to add two more teams to the event, bringing the total to eight. The business department is looking into the options right now, and the other six teams have been told the same thing. But there are some problems that need to be worked out, such as how the money will be distributed.
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