Despite having signed contracts, a number of foreign players have withdrawn to play in the more lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), making the PCB’s hosting of the expanded Pakistan Super League (PSL) a logistical and contractual nightmare.
Two days before the IPL begins on March 28, the PSL, which has been extended to include two additional franchises, is scheduled to start on Thursday in Lahore. The scheduling overlap means both leagues will run concurrently through April, with the PSL concluding on May 3.
A trustworthy source claims that in addition to individuals breaking their contracts, the PCB is also dealing with last-minute requests from some players to increase their fees because of the precarious environment in the area amid the ongoing turmoil in West Asia.
“The PCB is right now totally focussed on hosting the PSL on schedule and have not decided on any course of action against overseas players who have pulled out for so called personal reasons or have openly breached their PSL contracts to go to the IPL,” PTI quoted the source as saying.
There have been internal talks of banning players who have withdrawn for two to four years, but there are still worries that such harsh penalties would discourage elite foreign talent from joining PSL teams in the future.
“But there is an argument that bans will only make it more difficult for the eight franchise owners to sign on notable overseas players for the coming editions of the PSL,” he said.
The source admitted that there is still a significant financial gap between the two divisions. PSL teams are finding it difficult to match the much larger contracts offered by the IPL, which is dealing with an injury crisis of its own.
Corbin Bosch of South Africa was banned for a year after the PCB filed a lawsuit against him for violating a contract last year. Even before the PSL player draft, Bosch secured an IPL contract in the ensuing auction, therefore the move was essentially pointless.
“So the ban didn’t really impact him,” the source noted.
In an effort to create a stronger framework guaranteeing players fulfill their contractual duties once they commit to a league, the PCB is also anticipated to bring up the matter with other members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Gudakesh Motie and Johnson Charles of the West Indies, Dasun Shanaka of Sri Lanka, Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe, Spencer Johnson and Jake Fraser-McGurk of Australia, Ottneil Baartman of South Africa, Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan, and Tymal Mills of England are among the foreign players who have withdrawn from this year’s PSL after signing contracts.
A number of foreign players have traveled to Lahore for the PSL, including South African Tabraiz Shamshi, New Zealand’s Mark Chapman and Devon Convoy, and former Australians Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
More foreign players are anticipated in the next 48 hours, according to an official with the PSL secretariat of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Foreign coaching and support staff have also started reaching Lahore with former Australian captain Tim Paine and his staff now in Lahore,” he said.
Additionally, the official verified that four Bangladeshi players—Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Pervaz Emon—had boarded a flight from Dhaka to Lahore following approval from their government and board.
The PCB declared on Sunday that the PSL matches would be played without spectators due to the turmoil in the area and the government’s promised austerity and revenue-saving measures.
Additionally, the board limited the tournament to two venues—Karachi and Lahore—and canceled the opening ceremony.
