If we perform well in PSL, the viewers will leave IPL and watch us: Hasan Ali

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali believes that audiences may shift their attention from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), if PSL players deliver strong performances. The 2025 season of the PSL is set to begin on April 11, directly clashing with the ongoing, cash-rich and star-studded IPL in India.

Most high-demand overseas players have chosen to participate in the IPL. For instance, Corbin Bosch, who had initially signed for PSL 2025, withdrew after being called up by Mumbai Indians (MI) as an injury replacement.

“Of course, there should be good viewership, we’re clashing with the IPL but we only had this window to organise PSL. Only performance and entertainment grab viewership. So if we perform well during the entire PSL, then viewers will leave IPL and watch us. It’s all dependent on how PSL goes for us," Hasan said in an interview, as quoted by News18.

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The right-arm pacer acknowledged that poor national team performances might affect PSL. He noted that Pakistan’s recent results, from the Champions Trophy to the New Zealand tour, were below expectations due to the presence of new players. He expressed hope that future success would boost the PSL and bring in more fans.

“When the national team doesn’t perform well, it impacts franchise leagues like the PSL. Yes, our results haven’t been up to the mark from the Champions Trophy to the recent New Zealand tour. We had several new players in the team and hence they will take some time to settle down. But when Pakistan does well, the PSL’s graph also rises. We’ll try our best to make our fans happy in the upcoming season," Hasan added.

Hasan Ali, who has represented three different franchises in the PSL, remains one of the league’s top performers. He has taken 108 wickets in 82 matches at an average of 22.96.

The 2025 PSL season will kick off on Friday, with the opening match between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars set to take place in Rawalpindi.