In what could be a big embarrassment for Pakistan Super League, the exhibition match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators could be cancelled. The game was supposed to be held at the Arbab Niaz stadium in Peshawar, marking the start of PSL 10. However, reports have claimed that the match could be cancelled after the PCB’s assessment of the venue.
Proven once again: Why PSL can never be on the same level as IPL
As per GeoSuper, a PCB team visited the stadium in Peshawar ahead of the PSL 10 exhibition game. They analysed the pitch and outfield to be unsatisfactory. Further, the team came to a conclusion that the dressing rooms lacks basic necessities, while the media and commentary and media boxes also severely lack facilities.
It is pertinent to point out that the PCB and several former Pakistan cricketers have been making tall claims of how the PSL is better than the IPL. However, the recent analysis by the PCB proves that the venues in Pakistan are nothing compared to the Indian venues that host IPL. In fact, even the IPL franchises-owned training grounds, such as CSK and MI’s, are much better than the PSL venues.
The PCB made an over ambitious move overlapping PSL 10 with IPL 2025. That was met by several IPL discards who decided to participate in the league, only to result in most of them pulling out. One player even signed with a PSL franchise only to be named as a replacement player for Lizaad Williams in Mumbai Indians.
IPL enjoys more attraction from all cricket boards and fans across the world. The lucrative deals offered to the players, the revenue earned from the tournament, the priority given to IPL over PSL, the ad revenues, and the star power outdoes PSL easily. In 2023, former PCB chief Najam Sethi had claimed that 150 million people had watched PSL while only 130 million people watched the IPL digitally. Sadly, the IPL has outgrown the PSL since then and even now.
