5 Reasons why PSL is not meeting IPL standards

In 2008, when the Indian Premier League (IPL) started, nobody knew how big or successful it would be. However, 12 seasons down the line, it has established itself as one of the best T20 leagues in the world. The IPL has set a standard. In fact, there are multiple leagues around the world that have taken cue from the IPL. Over the years, the Indian T20 league has played its part in the development of the shortest format of the game. Pakistan have their own T20 league as well, the Pakistan Super League (PSL). It started in 2016 and has seen four seasons so far. For the first couple of seasons, there were five teams while the next two saw the addition of another team. However, there is a huge gap between the quality and the standard of the IPL and the PSL. Players have also tended to prefer the IPL more than the PSL. Moreover, with India and Pakistan being bitter rivals, fans and the world will invariably compare the two leagues. Hence, here we list out five reasons why IPL is better and why PSL is not meeting the standards of the IPL. 1. More money IPL auction. (Photo Source: Twitter) It is no secret that the BCCI is arguably the richest cricket board in the world. They make deals in millions and billions. Star India bought the broadcasting rights for the IPL for a period of five years, starting 2018 for a staggering INR 16,347.50 crore ($2.55 billion). This means that Star India will be paying the BCCI about INR 54.5 crore per IPL game. Let alone the administration and broadcasting money. The salary caps for players are way higher in the IPL. While the PSL runs a draft with players put in different categories, the IPL has a bidding system where franchises fight it out on an auction table. Platinum Category is the best category a player can get in the PSL. In that category, the player can get a minimum of $160,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Moreover, each team can pick no more than two foreign or even local players in this category. At the same time, there is no maximum salary cap in the IPL. Ben Stokes has earned INR 27 crore from just two auctions in 2017 (INR 14.5 crore) and 2018 (INR 12.5 crore). Hence, most overseas players get top bids and end up earning a lot more than they do in the PSL. 2. Better crowds and stadiums IPL Crowd and PSL Crowd. (Photo Source: Twitter) The IPL has become a part of the Indian cricket system. In fact, it’s a worm that’s been drilled in for the last 12 summers. Even non-cricket followers tend to get involved and are connected to the IPL. Hence, that has meant that there are better and bigger crowds for every game. Invariably, you will find most stadiums jam-packed for every IPL game. Even if the games don’t involve their favourite team or a city which is not a part of the IPL, you will find sell-out crowds. Hence, it not only adds colour but also helps the players perform under pressure, in front of huge crowds. The facilities at most Indian stadiums are top-notch as well. The outfields and the pitches prepared are of the highest quality. There is no doubt that the PSL may also have top quality grounds and stadiums. But the stadiums have witnessed low turn-outs and that has been a concern for the organizers as well. 3. No international schedule during the IPL window Imran Tahir. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) The timing of the IPL is nearly perfect. It is mostly played between the months of April and May. During IPL’s early years, there used to be some international games during those months but as the league has grown, even those have reduced quite a bit. In fact, international cricket bodies tend to avoid playing bilaterals during the IPL. It not only helps the players but also the attraction the series gets would be less than what it would otherwise. England were one country that start their international summer as early as May. Hence, one of the teams end up missing the back half of the IPL. However, that is slowly changing as well. Next year, England’s season starts on in the first week of June which will allow their players to stay back for the entire season of the IPL as well. 2019 was a slight exception. While there was the World Cup this year and teams started preparing early for the mega event, they called their players back early. However, apart from that, most international teams prefer not to keep any international assignments during the IPL. The same cant be said about the PSL. It is mostly played in February and March which is mostly the back end of the summer in three countries – Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Moreover, with India constantly playing, it keeps one other team busy as well. Hence, the players’ availability is a big issue. 4. World’s best coaches are a part of IPL Tom Moody & David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter) Coaches have become an integral part of every cricket team in the world. Be it an international side or a franchise playing a T20 league, coaches and mentors play an important role. Thus, all the top and leading men from the coaching circuit are a part of the IPL. You name them and they are associated with some or the other team (unless they are associated with an international team which puts a limitation). Gary Kirsten, Tom Moody, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayewardene Ricky Ponting, Trevor Bayliss, John Wright, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and many more are or have been a part of the IPL coaching set-up. In fact, former players want to get associated and stay in touch with the IPL and hence, they take up roles of mentors and coaches. Take the case of Daniel Vettori a few years back when he couldn’t make it to the RCB XI. Or even Brendon McCullum who hung up his boots recently has joined the KKR as the head coach. Moreover, where will you find the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayewardene, John Wright and Jonty Rhodes working together in the support staff? That simply underlines the quality and the standard of the IPL and why players prefer playing the IPL. 5. The scouting process is better in IPL Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) Scouting has become a huge part of the IPL. While the tournament is played for two months in a year and the auction takes place a few months before the season starts, the scouts are out busy throughout the year. Be it international cricket or domestic circuit, they are at task throughout the year. Most scouts keep a close eye on the proceedings in the Indian domestic circuit. With seven Indians needed to feature in a playing XI and 16 in a squad of 25, not all of them will be international or fringe players. Hence, IPL franchises have proper scouting teams that assist them in the auctions. There are multiple Indian stars who’ve come up the ranks through the IPL and the scouting process is one of the reasons for it. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and many more have benefitted and initially got IPL contracts largely due to the scouts. Thus, in this context, IPL is miles ahead when compared to the PSL.

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