PCB mulling over allowing PSL franchises to negotiate directly with major international players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering allowing franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), to directly sign marquee players for the upcoming tenth edition. This decision was made after many financial challenges and scheduling conflicts.

Meanwhile, franchises are still awaiting revenue share from the ninth edition due to unpaid dues from key stakeholders. This financial uncertainty aligns with potential scheduling conflicts with other major cricket events, including a triangular series outside the Future Tours Program and the Champions Trophy.

The PCB has proposed a window from April 10 to May 25 for PSL 10, but this timeframe presents its own set of challenges. Most notably, it could overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL), potentially leading to player availability issues and reduced revenue for the PSL.

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PCB to collide with IPL

Sources as per cricketpakistan.com.pk, reveal that the board is considering granting franchises the authority to negotiate directly with major international players. This will allow each team to sign one or two marquee players, potentially offering higher salaries to attract top talent to the league. The PCB plans to contribute a portion of the payment, with USD 500,000 allocated from the broadcast deal for this purpose.

However, player availability remains a significant concern. The PCB has been in discussions with other cricket boards regarding player availability, but no firm commitments have been secured. The potential clash with the IPL further increases this issue, as many star players may be unavailable during this period.

The scheduling of PSL 10 has become a point of contention between the PCB and the franchises. While the board claims the scheduling decision was made jointly, franchises dispute this, stating they were not given a real choice in the matter. Initial proposals for October or November were later denied, and subsequent discussions about June or July raised concerns about Pakistan's extreme summer heat.