KARACHI: After Quetta Gladiators, another Pakistan Super League franchise, Karachi Kings, have expressed reservations over the schedule of the fifth PSL which was entirely held in Pakistan for the first time earlier this year.

The owner of the Karachi Kings, Salman Iqbal added that venues could have been assigned to Quetta and Peshawar as their “homes” to bring them at par with other outfits.

“I was upset at the PSL management which claimed that they had gotten our consent before finalising the matches and travel itinerary. They only informed us that they were going to draft a schedule, nobody of us were informed about the final schedule prior to it’s release,” Salman Iqbal told reporters during a video conference.

“I had suggested that Rawalpindi Stadium be made the home venue for Peshawar and Islamabad while National Stadium should be shared as home turf by Karachi and Quetta. But it was not accepted and eventually the travelling and scheduling took their on teams without home venues,” said Salman and hoped that the formula would be adhered to from the next season.

To a question, he further said that PSL franchises should have an active part in the regional hierarchy under the newly drafted domestic structure.

Salman is optimistic that flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi and former captain Rashid Latif would again be part of Karachi Kings.

“Afridi is a dear friend, I miss him too. He is still playing but I will rope him in as one of Kings’ coaches after his retirement,” Salman said.

“Rashid was an integral part of Karachi Kings’ activities at the grass-roots. And I have had a word with him recently about his return to the Kings’ fold,” Salman concluded.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2020