Pakistan Cricket Board allows PSL teams to increase their salary cap

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams to increase their total salary cap by nearly $25,000. This difference in the salary cap will enable these teams to buy an additional player for the squad ahead of the third edition of the tournament.

The decision to raise the salary purse was decided during a meeting in Lahore, between PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and the six franchise owners. In the meeting, the concerns of the franchise owners over the new T10 Cricket League were also additionally discussed.

A request was made by PSL franchise Lahore Qalanders during the meeting to increase the salary cap so that there could be talents selected and included in the PSL squad which was not possible in the earlier salary range allowed to the teams.

“All franchises unanimously decided to increase the players salary cap by USD 25,000, allowing teams to pick a squad of 21 players for this season,” said a PCB spokesman was quoted as saying by Geonews.

“The newly inducted players will be from Pakistan and may include players unearthed through talent hunt programs or top performers from the National T20 Cup taking place in Rawalpindi currently,” the spokesman added.

Talent Search Programme

The meeting also served as a briefing space for the talent search programme, with the detailed plan for the same coming out in the next meeting. When they meet next there will be a discussion on how to improve the process of scouting new talent. Sethi reiterated Pakistan Super League’s stance against anti-corruption to ensure that players do not cheat.

The problem of counterfeit merchandising was also discussed. It was decided that the League will take legal measures to clamp down on counterfeit merchandising.

“Franchises informed chairman PCB that this league can jeopardise financial plans not only for the teams but also of the PSL as a product,” said a source.

The sources also added that Sethi informed the franchises that the board has only allowed the players to participate in the T10 League, and it has no formal backing.