KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) plans to attract international cricketers to Pakistan through the Pakistan Super League (PSL) seem to have taken a hit after England's players were advised against participating.  

Pakistan's very own Twenty20 league, based on the model of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL), is set to launch in late March.

Five teams will be part of the league in its first three editions and each team will comprise five local players and six international players.

However, England's players' union, the Professional Cricketers' Association, has expressed concerns about security in Pakistan and has asked counties not to give permission to the players to participate in the PSL.

"Our advice is that players should not take part in the PSL," PCA chief executive, Angus Porter, told the Mail on Sunday.

No international cricket team has toured Pakistan since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Amir Sohail said that the only way to improve Pakistan's image in the international arena is if contracted players from major cricketing nations come to play.

“The objective of the PCB is to rope in foreign players to build a strong case for the international cricket revival to Pakistan. This goal will only be achieved if contracted current players from major cricket playing countries come and play in Pakistan,” Sohail told a local news channel.