‘PSL clash with IPL beneficial in some ways’

LAHORE: The clash of the PSL 10 with the IPL would pose some issues for the PSL but it also may benefit PSL on certain fronts, a source involved in the matters said on Wednesday.

“The one big advantage for the PSL will be that those players who will go unpicked by the IPL franchises will be fully available for the PSL teams as there will be no international cricket at that time,” the source told ‘The News’.

The source claimed some positive responses have also been received in that direction and those players who sit on the bench in the IPL might be roped in by the PSL franchises. “They will prefer to play in the PSL instead of sitting on the bench in the IPL,” the source said.

The source said that there are some positive trends as well and one cannot say that the PSL clash with IPL may be disastrous for the PSL. “It’s not the case that there is a complete negative trend,” said the source.

“But effort will be made to lure those players who sit on the bench as IPL is too strong an event and they can keep many players on the bench,” the source warned. Due to its clash with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the other day proposed April 7 to May 20 as window for the PSL 10.

However, more discussions will be held on this issue with the franchises before finalising the schedule. According to media reports the PCB has shared an initial schedule of the PSL 10 with the franchises but sources in the franchises said that a lot of debate will be made on it.

“Nothing is final. A lot of discussion will be made on it,” a source said. According to reports Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host maximum ten matches while Pindi will host eight. Karachi and Multan will host five matches each while there is a plan to conduct four matches on neutral venue.

Media reports also say that PCB and franchises have shortlisted some major overseas players for the PSL 10 draft including Australia’s Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Daniel Sams. Similarly, England’s Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Sam Billings, New Zealand’s Tim Southee, Finn Allen, Colin Munro, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi are on the radar of the franchises.

Franchises sources said that they are not aware of this development. “So far window has not been made final so how you can go for this sort of thing,” a franchise source said.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi on Wednesday discussed Arbab Niaz Stadium construction with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. “Had a productive call with CM KP. He has given directives to the sports department to release funds for the remaining 20 percent job at the Arbab Niaz Stadium,” Javed Afridi said in a message on X.

“The PCB chairman is in favour of hosting Peshawar Zalmi’s games in Peshawar. Get ready for some thrilling events before PSL, fans will see international stars on KP soil,” Javed Afridi said.