ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Super League (PSL) Governing Council Najam Sethi said emerging talent taking part in the tournament will enjoy contracts starting from $25,000.

Expressing optimism, Sethi said that the league would boost Pakistan’s cricket by providing players an opportunity to play alongside top international cricketers.

“Each of the five teams participating in the event would have to include four foreign and two local emerging players in the squad,” Sethi said while talking to a local TV channel. “The emerging players will get at least $25,000 each.”

He added that the PSL would also help make the PCB financially independent. “The money earned through the league will be directed to a central pool, with the franchises getting a 75 per cent share. The earnings by the board will be utilised to develop cricket in the country.”

Sethi said each PSL franchise would be required to pay players’ fee to the PCB in advance and it would be disbursed to the cricketers by the board.

“Twenty eligible parties have shown interest in buying PSL franchises,” Sethi said, adding: “The number of total franchises would increase to eight during the next four years.”

Sethi said the PSL would be the second biggest Twenty20 competition after the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that an agreement had already been decided upon with several international players.