Pakistan Cricket Board concerned over IPL owners' investment in foreign T20 leagues

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is concerned over India’s investments in the franchise-based foreign T20 leagues as it could leave their players out of opportunities.

In the SA20, South Africa’s domestic competition, all the six teams taking part are owned by the IPL franchise owners. Interestingly, as the auction was held last week, not a single Pakistani player featured for any of the teams.

Moreover, in the International League T20 (ILT20), five of the six teams are owned by the Indian franchises, and none include a Pakistani cricketer. However, the American-owned side Desert Vipers were the only club to pick Azam Khan, a Pakistani player.

PCB concerned with the progress made by India in overseas leagues

Pakistan players played in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, however, the political climate between the two nations has been very tense  and this has eventually resulted in no bilateral cricket between the two teams.

The IPL has progressed well and is arguably the best T20 league in the world. The recent surge in the number of teams taken over by Indian franchises worldwide has also concerned the PCB. Furthermore, the investments by the IPL teams in foreign leagues has prompted PCB chairperson Ramiz Raja to express his concerns. The Pakistan Board held preliminary talks with cricket boards of other nations to discuss the possibility of reciprocal arrangements regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs).

This would see other boards release their players to appear in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in exchange for the PCB granting NOCs to play in other leagues. However, the depreciation of Pakistan rupee against the US dollar is another reason that affects the PSL as the overseas participants in the league are paid in US dollars. In any case, PCB is optimistic to have leading overseas players who will be involved in the PSL next year.