The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise owners and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are at odds over when to hold the Twenty20 competition in 2019. If it takes place during the suggested April–May period, it will conflict with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Due to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and other domestic international obligations, the next PSL cannot take place during its customary February–March time frame.
Additionally, the franchise owners are awaiting their portion of the central revenue pool from this year’s PSL, which raised worries due to low attendance at several locations.
“Holding the PSL in the same window as the IPL is a huge risk and the main issue could be availability of premium players, plus eyeballs on TV and digital media for the PSL matches,” an official with a team stated.
The PSL 2025, he added, had been explored by the PCB for a potential April–May window, but the franchise owners were still apprehensive about the competition competing against the IPL, which draws the greatest players in the world in addition to their wealth.
According to him, the PCB informed the franchise owners that they might be granted permission to begin direct negotiations with overseas players in order to secure commitments for the league prior to the IPL auction.
“We’ve been informed that we can at minimum validate talks with one or two major league players. However, it’s not yet final.”
Since its establishment, the PSL has been the PCB’s largest source of revenue because it was held during a favorable window, but as of 2023, things have changed.
“International cricket overtook the PSL as the PCB’s primary source of revenue in 2023,” a second franchise executive stated.
According to him, the PCB made 3.35 billion from the PSL in 2023, while international cricket brought in 5.5 billion.
