IPL Is On A "Different Level" To PSL, Says Veteran Pakistan Fast Bowler Wahab Riaz

[MenInG]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is considered by many to be the best platform for cricketers to showcase their talent. Since its first edition in 2008, the IPL has become the most attractive franchise-based cricket competition in the world, and even Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz agrees with that notion.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan on YouTube, Riaz was asked to compare IPL and the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The 35-year-old stated that the IPL's international recognition makes it the better than any other cricket league in the world. "IPL is the kind of league, where all international cricketers come and play.

First of all, you can't compare IPL to PSL. IPL is on a different level. Their way of working; commitments, communication and drafting is totally different", he said.

Riaz also feels that PSL is the second-best cricket league in the world, behind IPL. To prove his point, the bowler explained that the bowling level in the competition is the best in the world, leading to less high-scoring matches.

"The bowling level in PSL is the highest in the world and you don't get that in IPL either. That is why, if you see, high-scoring matches are less in PSL. I think the main difference cricket-wise is that in PSL, every team has the best bowling attacks in the world", he further added.

IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely midway through the season due to rising COVID-19 cases in India. The country is currently batting the pandemic's second wave and is among the worst-hit regions in the world.

Even PSL 2021 has been suspended due to the pandemic in Pakistan but is set to resume in June this year.

The BCCI is yet to come up with a resumption date for IPL 2021.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/ind...wahab-riaz-2442332?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Why do people still keep on comparing both these leagues?

 

[Mamoon]

"The bowling level in PSL is the highest in the world and you don't get that in IPL either. That is why, if you see, high-scoring matches are less in PSL. I think the main difference cricket-wise is that in PSL, every team has the best bowling attacks in the world"

) ) )

Okay then.

 

[Devadwal]

PSL bowling level is highest where no team defended 180-200 score 11th time . lol

 

[Majestic]

No doubt, IPL is at an another level to other T20 leagues. It is also better than international T20s.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz has taken a dig at the team management, saying that there is a norm in the country to select players in the national team based on one or two performances.

The pacer who has played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is for Pakistan also went on to add that the previous performances of the player should also be kept in mind.

"You cannot completely blame the management. There are some mistakes that we as players have made as far as performances are concerned. But I think something that should be changed is that a player should not be judged based on just one or two matches. Not only with us but with anyone. It has been the norm in Pakistan that any player selected is judged based on one or two performances," Wahab told Cricket Pakistan.

"I think the previous performances and hard work of the player should be kept in mind. Everyone has good and bad days. A player can give better performances if they are supported in both good and bad times. I think this is something that definitely needs to improve. Hopefully, it will be better with time," he added.

The pacer also opined that communication is the key and every player needs to know what the future has in store for them.

"Communication is very important. Players always have this question of why they were excluded. If an explanation is given and is based on reality then a player has to take them and work harder. It shouldn't just be because of some excuses. It makes a lot of difference. I even think if a player is not part of the teams' plan for a longer period than he should be told. The player can then work hard on improving his game without any diversions," said Wahab.

"I think a clear message and picture should be sent to players which can result in better performances," he added.

Wahab also claimed that he was satisfied with his performances and he rubbished claims that his career was dependent on just one or two good spells. He also went on to back the role of senior players in the side.

"Everyone has their own opinions. I think a team wins because of collective performances. If you look at my career, I have not achieved many things I could have. My career is not just based on one or two spells. I could have bowled even more but again in Pakistan a player is judged and discarded based on just one or two matches. I have given match-winning performances at different stages and I am very satisfied overall," said Wahab.

"We have a trend of calling for youngsters. They should definitely be there. But we should also see if they have the experience, performances or skills to back them up which is very important. I think senior players should be in the World Cup because that is a totally different pressure," he added.

Lastly, the pacer concluded by saying that he hopes to cement his place in the Pakistan squad for this year's T20 World Cup.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sp...e-or-two-performances-wahab-riaz-2302914.html

 

[Varun]

Don't take these opinions too seriously - the ones who have played only in one of the leagues but not the other.

Steyn's take was fine.

 

[Savak]

Don't think anyone has had the chances that Wahab has had. One good game and then goes missing in the next 10

 

[PakLFC]

IPL is the number one almost like an international tournament. Wahab is absolutely correct.

 

[moghul]

"IPL is at a different level " nothing wrong with this statement, Wahab is right.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Only 1980s test cricket bowling is comparable to the level of fast bowling at display in PSL.

 

[krikit]

Wahab Riaz 7.19 18.73
Hasan Ali 7.30 20.36
Mohammad Amir 7.21 26.49


Jasprit Bumrah 7.39 24.14
Kagiso Rabada 8.32 19.30
Jofra Archer 7.13 21.32

These are the stats of the 3 best fast bowlers in the IPL vs the PSL over the last 4 - 5 years (Wahab, Hasan and Amir are the all time highest wicket takers). PSL stats are either equal or superior.

Now who in their right mind would pick any of the PSL bowlers over any of the IPL bowlers.

 

[Rajdeep]

Not sure why so many Pakistani players/fans think bowling standard of PSL is better. The fact is worlds best bowlers plays in IPL and hence it has the best bowling quality. A case can be made whether local Pak bowlers are better than Indians but that is a seperate debate. But overall IPLs bowling is way better than PSL bcoz the best of best players plays there.

 

[krikit]

'Highest bowling level in the world' vs Salt, Vince, Crawley and Gregory

 

[redmaverik84]

Lets not make this a Ind vs Pak contest here. Essentially the top tier bowling is better in IPL because of the presence of your Starcs, Cummins, Rabada, Nortje etc, the cream as you would say. The Indians have Bumrah, Shami and a couple of other consistent performers. But I feel when you look at the second tier with the emerging talent, PSL has a lot of 19 to 21 year olds bowling around the 140k mark and looking lively and sporadically effective( takes time and experience). IPL doesn't give a lot of chance to young U-19 fast bowlers, I can think of Karthik Tyagi this season, Nagarkotti and Mavi a couple of seasons back beyond which they trust their tried and tested medium pacers and spinners who are economical.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Lets not make this a Ind vs Pak contest here. Essentially the top tier bowling is better in IPL because of the presence of your Starcs, Cummins, Rabada, Nortje etc, the cream as you would say. The Indians have Bumrah, Shami and a couple of other consistent performers. But I feel when you look at the second tier with the emerging talent, PSL has a lot of 19 to 21 year olds bowling around the 140k mark and looking lively and sporadically effective( takes time and experience). IPL doesn't give a lot of chance to young U-19 fast bowlers, I can think of Karthik Tyagi this season, Nagarkotti and Mavi a couple of seasons back beyond which they trust their tried and tested medium pacers and spinners who are economical.

Probably the most nuanced take on this debate and I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[krikit]

Lets not make this a Ind vs Pak contest here. Essentially the top tier bowling is better in IPL because of the presence of your Starcs, Cummins, Rabada, Nortje etc, the cream as you would say. The Indians have Bumrah, Shami and a couple of other consistent performers. But I feel when you look at the second tier with the emerging talent, PSL has a lot of 19 to 21 year olds bowling around the 140k mark and looking lively and sporadically effective( takes time and experience). IPL doesn't give a lot of chance to young U-19 fast bowlers, I can think of Karthik Tyagi this season, Nagarkotti and Mavi a couple of seasons back beyond which they trust their tried and tested medium pacers and spinners who are economical.

IPL also has some good 2nd tier talent. Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh (I imagine Sean Connery saying his name), Chetan Sakariya, Avesh Khan. T Natarajan was also a nobody until last year. They may not look as good as the PSL bowlers bowling to PSL batsman but the difference is that when these bowlers were given a chance at the highest level, they actually stepped up and looked international quality against top teams (Aus and Eng).

 

[AMSS]

Probably the most nuanced take on this debate and I agree wholeheartedly.

More like a superficial take that feeds on broad but inaccurate generalizations. What does top tier and second tier mean in this context? Delhi Capitals attack this season featured Rabada, Nortje, Avesh, Ishant, Axar, and Ashwin. Who's the second tier in that attack and how does he compare to the PSL equivalent?

The weakest bowling line up in IPL is SRH with Khaleel and Sandeep Sharma as Indian seamers. But are they really worse in terms of pace than Tanvirs and the Imran Khans trundling in PSL?

 

[krikit]

More like a superficial take that feeds on broad but inaccurate generalizations. What does top tier and second tier mean in this context? Delhi Capitals attack this season featured Rabada, Nortje, Avesh, Ishant, Axar, and Ashwin. Who's the second tier in that attack and how does he compare to the PSL equivalent?

The weakest bowling line up in IPL is SRH with Khaleel and Sandeep Sharma as Indian seamers. But are they really worse in terms of pace than Tanvirs and the Imran Khans trundling in PSL?

SRH until 2019 in fact had the best bowling attack in the tournament with non-injured Bhuvi, Young Rashid and Siddharth Kaul carrying the entire team with Warner.

 

[deep82]

How can you judge a local fast bowling talent if one batch (IPL ) bowls to all top current world batsman while other batch (PSL ) bowls to a mix of Pakistan batsman ( mostly mediocre as evident by recent results ) and second tier batsman ( oldies, TTF and upcoming talent ) of other countries.

The only way we can judge is throw them to international cricket and we have seen what happen there. Natrajan and Siraj looked like they belong to world level winning matches for their countries while Naseem, Musa, Hasnain and Rauf looks like they build their reputation on PSL alone and got exposed in world cricket.

Any substandard bowler can have a breakthrough season but they are expected to fail in International cricket.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

More like a superficial take that feeds on broad but inaccurate generalizations. What does top tier and second tier mean in this context? Delhi Capitals attack this season featured Rabada, Nortje, Avesh, Ishant, Axar, and Ashwin. Who's the second tier in that attack and how does he compare to the PSL equivalent?

The weakest bowling line up in IPL is SRH with Khaleel and Sandeep Sharma as Indian seamers. But are they really worse in terms of pace than Tanvirs and the Imran Khans trundling in PSL?

Well then maybe you should go back and read his response again, instead of passing such a specific judgment on a statement that you (according to your own admission) haven't even fully understood.

He clearly mentioned top-level international pacers while talking about top-tier bowlers. And he clearly mentioned up and coming bowlers who haven't established themselves yet while talking about the second-tier.

 

[Savak]

Some IPL seasoned players like ABD, Gayle have not done that well in the PSL but i think that had more to do with the slow sluggish nature of the UAE wickets rather than the quality of the bowlers.