Local players from the team's region mandatory from PSL 4, confirms PCB

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, has announced that it will be an absolute mandate for the franchises to include players from the team’s native region from the 4th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). This rule, however, will not be applicable for the upcoming edition of the tournament. As per the quotes in PakObserver.net, Sethi remarked that it was the Quetta franchise who brought up the topic in the recent meeting.

After a lot of due deliberation, it was ultimately decided that it is prudent to include native players in the team. More importantly, it makes a lot more sense when the regional players represent their own regions in the tournament. Also, Sethi expects more matches to be held in Pakistan from the 4th edition of the PSL.

“The matter was brought up in the meeting by Quetta region. This is not PCB’s decision and who is to be picked is totally up to the franchises. After deliberation, we agreed that from the 4th edition of PSL, the PCB will include a clause to make it mandatory that franchises should pick at least one emerging player from the region it represents,” quoted Najam Sethi.

“We are renovating stadiums, we are getting security clearance to have matches in Pakistan, we are on the right path. Maybe by the 4th edition, you’ll see half of the matches coming to Pakistan and then all the games will come to Pakistan,” Sethi mentioned.

On Karachi hosting the finals

Speaking further, the PCB Chairman noted that the 2018 edition of the PSL will have 3 matches held in Pakistan. The two play offs games will be played at Lahore and the finals will be played at the National Stadium, Karachi. Interestingly, he revealed that some of the players who have confirmed their availability for the matches at Lahore, are not willing to travel to Karachi.

“We have prepared two lists of players. One is of the players who have agreed to visit both cities and another is of players who have agreed for Lahore only,” he said.