Pakistan Super League is all set to be delayed. To keep the original timeframe of January 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed the UAE or Qatar as alternate venues. The delay is due to Pakistan’s general elections, which will take place early next year. But all franchise owners shot down PCB’s proposal at Monday’s PSL governing council meeting. Instead, the decision was taken to postpone PSL 2024 until after the elections. For the time being, PCB has decided on February 8 to March 24 as the window.
With the elections set to take place early next year, PCB was searching for a home for PSL 2024. While UAE had earlier hosted the tournament, franchises opposed the idea as per a Cricket Pakistan report.
PSL GC Meeting Highlights:
- No additional team will be added in the upcoming season.
- PCB will continue to explore opportunities for women’s league or exhibition matches during PSL.
- February 8 to March 24 will be PSL 2024 window.
- PCB will continue to work closely with the franchises to explore alternative venues as a part of contingency planning.
PCB also proposed Qatar as a Plan B. But all franchises collectively urged to keep PSL in Pakistan as the tournament only brought back to its homeland after Covid-19 pandemic forced the tournament to UAE.
However, with the pandemic ending, the tournament returned to Pakistan and helped PCB boost its coffers. Franchises reminded PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf that if PSL 2024 takes place outside Pakistan, the PCB would lose PKR 800 million or Rs 23 Cr (approximately). Hence, it was decided that PSL 2024 will only take place after the general elections.
Difficult to find window
- BBL 2024: December 7, 2023 to January 24, 2024
- ILT20 2024: Jan 19-Feb 18, 2024
- SA20 2024: Jan 10-Feb 10, 2024
- BPL 2024: January-February (Likely)
- IPL 2024: March-May
- PSL 2024: Feb 8 to Mar 24
PSL 2024 to clash with giants
However, it’s not great news for Pakistan cricket. A February 8 start will force PSL to clash with ILT20, SA20 as well as BPL. It can also end up clashing with the giant IPL 2024 if the start date is pushed to the second week of February.
With IPL 2024 set to begin in late March, PCB may find some foreign players as well as coaches in PSL leaving the tournament early for IPL.
PCB needs at least a 34-35 day window to conclude PSL 2024 as Pakistani players will begin T20 World Cup preparations.
Similarly, IPL has its own battle on its hands. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will also have a very limited window due to T20 World Cup 2024 in June. As expected, there will be no extended IPL window. Instead, the tournament will have to be completed by May 27 at least.
Furthermore, Indian General Elections could also force BCCI to conduct some parts of IPL 2024 overseas. BCCI cannot advance the IPL either as India play a 5-match Test series against England at home that concludes only on March 11.
If PCB decides to conduct PSL 2024 in the last week of February, the playoffs and opening week of IPL will clash.
No NOC for ILT20/SA20?
In what could be a setback for ILT20 franchises, PCB is still not onboard with NOC for Pakistani cricketers in the UAE T20 league. Shaheen Afridi is the marquee name in the league from Pakistan as the pacer signed up for Desert Vipers for a big-money deal.
However, PSL franchises have objected to the idea of NOC to Pak players. In response, PCB has promised to formulate a policy with chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq in the coming days.
Meanwhile, SA20 players’ auction will take place on Wednesday with Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah as part of it. It is unclear if Indian business-owned franchises will pick Pakistani players or the duo will get NOC to play in SA20.
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