f_c stirring the pot as usual. Feeding the insecurities of our fans and then taking a backseat as they show their vulnerability. Well played.
You have to feel sorry for our fans. They simply cannot come to terms with the reality that the PSL will always be insignificant compared to the giant that the IPL has become today.
Pakistan cricket does not have the appeal, marketability and star power of Indian cricket, and unless the PCB finds a goldmine, it will always lag behind the BCCI in terms of financial muscle. As a result, the high quality players will always prefer to play in the IPL.
The global perception of the two countries also makes a difference. It will take a lot of time and a lot of effort for Pakistan to improve its reputation, while India has made great strides over the last 15-20 years or so, and are greatly respected as a nation.
As a result, our fans have created this alternative reality where the quality of the bowling in the PSL is better than the quality of bowling in the IPL.
However, when you ask them to explain why and how, they end up falling over each other in an attempt to juggle all the contradictions.
“McCullum, Gayle etc. have failed in the PSL but are IPL stars”
Okay, but then how do you explain the success of the batsmen who have done well in the PSL.
A quick look at the top scorers in the league’s history says everything that needs to be said.
How many of these batsmen are world class players with significant achievements at the top level? Zero.
“The quality of bowling in PSL is better”
Who are these high quality bowlers? Obese Patel of all people, bowled his side to the title with his legendary spin bowling.
Rahat Ali, a proven failure in international cricket, was one of the leading pacers.
A 50 year Sami is still one of the top bowlers, and he will not last a series in international cricket.
A past his prime Afridi had a great season with the ball, and he was finished as a bowler years ago.
PSL have a few good Pakistani bowlers, but that is it. Apart from Tahir and Narine, it does not have quality international bowlers, especially when it comes to fast bowling.
In the IPL, majority of the contemporary world class fast bowlers play alongside very good Indian bowlers. It is a league where Boult, Starc, Rabada, Steyn, Johnson etc. play and have played in the past.
These names are too big to play in the PSL, as Johnson showed. Even after retiring, he could not be bothered to show up in the PSL.
However, he will definitely play in the PSL once he is no longer good enough to get an IPL contract. Same goes for Bravo and others.
The IPL wipes the floor with the PSL in every single aspect. Always has and always will. It is the gold standard of franchise cricket, and the quality of cricket is the same as that of T20 internationals. It is international cricket in franchise form.
The PSL is nothing but a poor imitation. It is a Made in China version of the IPL, and same goes for the other leagues who attempted to copy the IPL but do not have the clout of Indian cricket.
PSL’s overall quality is poor. The bowling is mediocre, but the batting is embarrassing. The fact that the batting is minnow level and easily the worst among all T20 leagues make the mediocre bowling look better than it actually is.
The PSL bowling attacks will get hammered in the PSL, and the IPL bowling attacks will do well in the PSL.
Our fans have always lead the way when it comes to being delusional, but I feel sorry to see them do this to themselves. Yes every Pakistani, including myself, would love to see Pakistan cricket and the PSL surpass Indian cricket and the IPL.
However, it is never going to happen for a multitude of reasons. Hence, instead of trying to live in an alternate universe to feel better about your misery, why not make it easy for yourselves by accepting the reality?
The PSL does not have to be half as good as the IPL to help Pakistan cricket. The PSL will be doing its job as long as our people are able to watch the matches at home and the young players are getting opportunities to stake a claim in international cricket.
Why try to become something that is beyond our reach? The jealousy, insecurity and bitterness are not helping us one bit. Stop embarrassing yourselves by comparing the PSL to the IPL.
:
.png "Kumar Sangakkara :sanga")
