The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to not allow its contracted players to participate in any T20 league held in the United Arab Emirates other than the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after a PSL governing council meeting was held at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.
The PSL governing council, which comprises PCB chairman Najam Sethi, representatives of the PCB, and representatives of all six PSL franchises, “expressed its concerns over a newly-announced T20 league taking place in the UAE” in an official release.
Sethi, according to media reports, has been negotiating with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to create a 35-day window before the next edition of the PSL to provide PCB enough room to make necessary logistical and marketing arrangements.
The ECB is set to host the second edition of the T-10 league, along with its own T20 tournament, and Afghanistan Premier League in the next season which will run alongside Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand and Australia in the UAE. The PCB wishes no other cricket to be played during their home series in the Emirates as it hurts their commercial interests, and is contemplating moving their home series to Malaysia if its demands are not met.
After hosting three PSL matches in Pakistan this year, the governing council has “decided that at least eight matches will be held in Pakistan next year”. Moreover, an increase in the salary cap of PSL squads was approved during the meeting. Out of the six franchises, five have cleared their dues with the PCB and the remaining franchise, which happens to be Peshawar Zalmi, made a “firm commitment” to do the same.
