PSL concerns

Published March 18, 2018

THE abrupt pullout of a number of foreign players, competing in the Pakistan Super League, from the two playoffs and the final in Lahore and Karachi respectively has drawn widespread criticism from cricketing circles, besides forcing a rethink of strategy by franchise owners. Key overseas players, including Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, Eoin Morgan, Kumar Sangakkara, Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Sam Billings and others, have cited either security or personal reasons for not travelling to Pakistan with their respective PSL outfits. This has been a setback to the cash-rich league, now in its third season. All the above players are a huge draw for their respective teams and their absence could dangerously undermine the level of competition anticipated for the three games in Pakistan, the tickets for which have already been sold out. The refusal of the reluctant brigade rankles more when seen against others like J.P. Duminy, Darren Sammy, Imran Tahir, Luke Ronchi and Colin Ingram who have expressed no qualms about playing in Pakistan if their teams qualify.

No surprise then that many of our former players have called on the six PSL franchises to make it mandatory for overseas players from next year to ensure their presence in the league matches in Pakistan or pay a heavy penalty. The situation is such that Moin Khan, the coach of the Quetta Gladiators, has said that overseas players refusing to travel with their franchises for the playoffs are not supportive of Pakistan cricket and should not have been approached by the PCB. While that may come across as unduly harsh, it is nevertheless true that flaws exist in the current structure. PCB chairman Najam Sethi has urged the foreign players to review their stance and assured them of foolproof security. But much more needs to be done — the government, security agencies and cricket authorities must work jointly on a long-term plan that removes foreign players’ reservations of playing in Pakistan, with the ultimate goal of relocating all future PSL matches within the country.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...