67
ISLAMABAD: Cricketers from leading Test nations like South Africa, Australia and England have shown interest in playing in the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to be held in March, managing director of the league Salman Sarwar Butt said on Thursday.
National teams have avoided visiting Pakistan since the deadly terror attack on the Sri Lanka team convoy in Lahore in 2009, but individuals made up an international all-star team which met Pakistan in two successfully organised Twenty20 games in Karachi in October.
“We are thrilled by the number of players and agents from several International Cricket Council (ICC) member countries showing interest to play in the PSL,” Salman said.
“Players from South Africa, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England and Ireland have expressed their interest in the event,” he added.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is scheduled to launch the Twenty20 league in late March with at least 30 foreign players divided in five city-based teams yet to be named. Haroon Lorgat, the former chief executive of the ICC, is an adviser to the PSL.
The PCB sees the league as a steppingstone to reviving the confidence of foreign players that, for at least sports, it’s safe to play in Pakistan.
“The best way for us to allay fears of the players is to provide top-level security for the event,” Salman stressed.
“The PSL will have a comprehensive security plan ... which would meet the ICC standards. We are also planning to engage independent security experts to further augment our preparations and delivery.”
Karachi and Lahore are the top contenders to host the PSL. Lahore also hosted a sports festival in which athletes from 26 countries competed.
“We are confident that sports events and the PSL in particular, can be safely held in Pakistan,” Salman remarked.
He further said the PSL would also target big-name coaches for the league.
“I am not at liberty to divulge names but there are coaches and other support personnel from around the globe who have shown keen interest to participate in the PSL,” he said.
“We are keen to have them working alongside our local coaching staff so that we can learn and benchmark our own coaching skills and team management.”—AP
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (67) Closed
Jan 18, 2013 07:39pm
You think Pakistanis are more obsessed with cricket? More than Indians?
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:42pm
Seems like it.....
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 10:48pm
None other than the best players of the world will be playing in PSL. Trust me, ONLY the BEST!
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:37am
It was a shamefully shocking event when not even a single paki player was selected in IPL. The groce face of indian politics came in front of the whole world that day. India presented one of the worst selection tactic in the history of cricket. Now since we have defeated you in most humiliating way possible in your own home ground...You indians have so much hatred in your hearts that you cannot stand watching PSL start. Inshallah PSL will rock!!!
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 10:29pm
Krishna, this is one other thing that can help reduce terrorism in Pakistan. The young people will have some entertainment and their minds will be occupied with some positive entertainment vs. falling in the hands of wrong people. After all most of the suicide bombers have been very young people and it is a fact that at that young age they are easily swayed into wrong hands. So, wish all the best to PSL and all the players who will be joining PSL.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 10:33pm
I see most negative comments from Indian friends. Could be because PSL will not include Indian players and partly because they don't realize how important it is to keep the minds of young generation on sports and positive entertainment. An empty mind is the devil's workshop. I hope you guys will understand this and just applause this step from PCB.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:38am
they are scared that PSL will attract more cricketers than IPL, which is shadowed by bookies and unfair management!
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:39am
wake up sardar! we took indian so called GIANTS to the test and they turned out to be just ANTS....in your face looser!!!
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 06:16am
Nice work !
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 11:51pm
Your humiliation was no day-dream. It was for real.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 10:09am
It's seem to be a fight among Indian and Pakistani readers but we want constructive discussion..........
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 06:40pm
If your artists and players are so good why they don't go to any other country to preform? If you have guts name ten countries other than India where they are invited or have a following. All the best.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 04:54pm
ipl sucks
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 04:21pm
Don't know which economist u subscribe to. One of the big issues with Pakistan is dearth of ,middle class. Didn't take hard to reply Mr Ahmed.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 10:38am
May we no one else wants the number of scandals and wrong doings after match party and etc. So thank you we dont want to become IPL ..
Reference : http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2012/may/250512-IPL-and-its-women-A-tale-of-sex-storms-and-scandals.htm
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 10:39am
May be no one else want....(Correction)
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:32am
the whole world knows that IPL is staged drama that is ruining the spirit of cricket.
Bookies and players make a lot of money by destroying the game. Shame on moodi and shame on india
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 07:08am
i think, security section of ICC should analyze the security plan provided by PSL team, if feasible than on the behalf PCB assure foreign players to come to Pakistan. after all PCB is the member of ICC, that's why ICC should take this issue under consideration.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 11:33am
:-)
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 11:35am
Com'on ! Don't be that harsh !
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 08:31am
Go play your IPL...why are you so concerned about pakistan...hush
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 06:48am
Mubarak ho! Viva! Bravo! Ole! Albeit this is good news the PCB must prove importantly, that they did not 'cower and cringe' to get these players back into the arena.
Security is important. Additionally, do not reveal the names of the players until the last moment, otherwise you and we all know who will start jumping on the bandwagon to malign Pakistan and start making plans to terrorize the players and fans.
MOST IMPORTANT. When you make a commitment, STICK TO IT REGARDLESS OF THE COST. Not like Ijaz Butt, paindoo, who reneged on his COMMITMENT. Salams for 2013
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:42am
no indian is capable to reply what you asked Ahmed. Good shot!
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 10:17am
Indian players play in IPL yet their performance is S%$#...Indians always start to cry when ever Pakistanis do something, our talent is world class, that why our singers and drama artists are invited by India to perform there but thanks to your government's lack of interest in solving the security concerns; hockey players, singer and drama artists are asked to go back to Pakistan...world's largest democracy and secularism...go figure
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:32am
Because they will ask BCCI to send Indian team to pak to earn some money as they are bankrupt and we don't want to send our team to pak.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 09:58am
All aspects in any country proceed collectively. We can't sit inside saying lets control terrorism first and then we'll build a flyover or a university or any project. Pakistanis are obsessive with cricket becuase we love cricket as do the Indians and as the Europeans love football.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 10:34am
If you r saying that in 2013 the best players are going to playing in 2013 - I TRUST U 2 SAY THIS....U CAN HAPPILY LIVE IN DENIAL.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 08:49am
Definition of 'trying to imitate':
i would like to correct one thing about 'imitating', the idea of a Premier League was first floated by PCB in 2007!!! Kapil Dev and then BCCI was very keen in 'imitating' that idea =)
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 06:35pm
Go figure how much is your country foreign reserve, more than that IPL earns every year
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:59pm
Terrorism is for the govt to deal with. The General public want normality in life which means trying to continue with sports/shows/festivals etc. If you are from India ( which i am assuming), then its like me saying forget cricket in India and sort out the millions in poverty.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 04:39am
But then only dream..nothing else
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 03:29am
Krishna you are correct, but let's not forget what is happening in our own back yard where innocent people are getting killed in the name of security. It is not limited to pakistan but the entire asia.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 03:07am
Boom Boom Pakistan !!!
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 03:57am
government failed to provid security to pakistanis how it wil secur these forighner, PSL is just rubish thing,it not good 4 our country and would creat problems
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:36pm
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 03:02am
Well done PCB; commendable effort indeed!
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 02:53am
PSL is impossible as long as Mr. Malik is there! We need to talk sense, BD is not coming and we are taking about players from around the world to come and play.
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 01:05am
I hope PSL becomes successful in real sense, but at present Pakistani politicians and administration are in no mood to clean up and bring the house in order, there is no doubt that they are involved in creating the continuing lawlessness, it suits them they only talk of democracy and are not interested in meeting very basic requirements of running the democratic set-up, honesty and transparency is not in their interest, therefore all efforts go in vain to make Pakistan stand up with other countries, given the present system those days are not far when Pakistan will be ranked with backward African countries, it is already ranked as one of the most corrupt country.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 12:48am
You Pakistanis are Day dreaming.....:)
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 12:56am
If the purpose of staging the PSL is other than stated - encouraging the international players to think it is safe to play in Pakistan, then it is not OK. Think what happened to India, after the IPL? And if it is only to lure international players, then there might be some other straight-forward strategies, think about paying more money directly to the playing eleven. Think Bangladesh, they agreed after increasing the price -;)
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 09:18am
Thats their problem, why are you so troubled baby?
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 09:49pm
pakistan rocks !!!!
Recommend
0
Jan 19, 2013 12:34am
Let Pakistan solve terrorism issues first and then think of luxuries such as PSL.
Pl. concentrate on CORE issues.or atleast wait till after the elections.
Well wisher
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 05:47pm
If they play in one stadium/city only, this league will be a flop. The only the stadiums will be packed and exciting (also profit making!) is if each team plays in its own city. If its just played in Lahore and Karachi then expect empty seats!!!
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 11:22am
Everybody is trying to imitate the IPL, but its a fact nobody is going to reach even a little closer to that...
IPL is IPL and these all like BPL and PSL are terrible,and nobody is going to play at Pakistan..
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 08:02pm
And where did the IPL come from? oh yes a take off from the ICL- Its not original- its only because it was "approved" by the board
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 05:48pm
SWEET DREAMS BABY
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 11:25am
After we humiliated India in India, We believe in dreaming big
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 05:22pm
Why do we act so frustrated and full of hatred whenever we read any news about our neighbors trying to do something which might show them in a good light in the world forum. We need not get wary all the time. Sometimes instead of attacking and rebuking them, we can sure wish them luck.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 05:01pm
All the best!
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 04:32pm
comedy circus
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:34am
Do they have enough money to conduct PSL ?
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 09:17am
Why u people trying to compare India,,,solve some big problem like terrorism first then all countries would play in pak.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 09:15am
In India there is only IPL, IPL and IPL. There is no balance left in Indian cricket now and that is why IPL is under criticism as it has ruined things for India. PSL is supposed to be shorter unless PCB follows its neighbours.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 03:47pm
Let us please teach how to cope up with this great great humiliation, Aisha. After all who knows better about humiliation than pakistan.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 02:57pm
Dream big that is good... Day dreaming is foolish....
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 11:39am
I dont undertsand why pakistanis are so obsessive with cricket, afterall cricket is just a game. Even before thinking of organizing a PSL with international cricketers, Pakistan government should first think of controlling terrorism and safe-guarding the lives of common pakistanis. Life is more important than sports.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 03:25pm
Foreign players like Azhar Mahmood, Imran Tahir, etc. etc... Even Mushy is considering coming out of retirement to be a foreign player. ha ha ha ha ha
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 06:44am
Is this his dream....
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 10:08am
are we not putting the cart before the horse. Firstly before speculating would it not be better to get the firm from those interested in playing PSL,in any way that can hold good when needed,instead of living on false hopes.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 06:45am
Who are these cricketers who want to play now? No names....
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:47pm
May be he is talking about dead cricketers. Given the security situation in the country, I will be surprised if Somalian or Malian cricketers agree to play in SPL.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 05:05pm
good reply aisha.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 09:44am
I think its a good idea but it may be better to leave till after the elections. I also thinK that we MUST KEEP Haroon Lorgat WELL AWAY FROM PAKISTAN AS HE IS NOT A PAKISTANI FRIEND BUT AN ENEMY.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 04:33pm
Pakistan is not a banana republic, it has a 50 million strong middle class, all international companies operate there, name me any other country where there are security risks but still the GDP is 3+ every year.
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:22pm
PSL is interesting indeed :)
Recommend
0
Jan 18, 2013 07:18am
IPL spoiled Indian Cricket, PSL good for Pakistani Cricket. Can anybody from Pakistan explain me please........?
Recommend
0
