Wasim Akram, a former Pakistan cricketer, has criticised the duration of the Indian Premier League (IPL). While promoting the Pakistan Super competition (PSL), Akram ridiculed the length of the world’s largest T20 competition, stating that a person’s children grow up while the event continues.
Wasim Akram used the Big Bash League (BBL) as an example.
The Australian competition began with 31 matches in the 2011-12 season and grew to 61 games in subsequent years. However, Cricket Australia (CA) has decreased the tournament to 44 matches over the last few seasons.
The IPL lasts two months, whilst the BBL lasts approximately 40 days, which is the same as the PSL. However, the PSL has 60 matches compared to the IPL’s 74. It is worth mentioning that the IPL currently has ten teams, the BBL has eight, and the PSL has six, which naturally influences the total amount of matches.
“Bacche bade ho jate hain, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti (Kids grow up, but the league just keeps running),” Akram stated at a PSL promotional event at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
“The best part about the league is that it lasts for approximately 34-35 days, possibly a bit longer next year. The British Basketball League is an excellent example. They started off with two and a half months. After four or five years, they discovered it was no longer working. Their current duration is approximately 40 days. That is it. That’s the beauty of the PSL,” he said.
Akram further claimed that the PSL features more talented domestic players than the IPL. The former fast bowler, now a globally renowned commentator, stated that it is a widely held belief that Pakistan consistently produces more naturally gifted talent, whereas India excels in developing high-quality, well-polished players.
“Of course, the talent. Everybody overseas, when I talk to them, they talk about bowling in the IPL and other leagues. They say the PSL, as far as talent is concerned, is definitely No. 1 because we have quality, not quantity,” said Akram.
India
