It's time for the worst time of the year for Pakistan cricket!

[KoyoAli]

Because you can take performances internationally seriously. If a player does good there you know they are quality. For PSL it means nothing.

If players don't have PSL they will not be overworked, and will have to time rest and gain fitness, and work on their skills - like batsmen would have to work with Yousuf at the NHPC.

PSL can have value only if we invest the money from it into first class cricket and not get carried away with the quality/ performers in it. It certainly can be a good money bag for future building.

And for the record, I watch plenty of rest cricket and first class.

That's not PSL's headache in the first place. It's not PSLs responsibility to give Players rest. It's the managements. And most of the PSL money is being put into Domestic cricket already. Tell me where else is the PSL money going?

 

[Markhor]

Lol love how a bunch of posters here are so detached from ground realities in Pakistan cricket, they talk in such a generic manner, "t20 is a circus, cricket is destroyed, jokers, low standard etc etc". Most of them either are not located in Pakistan or haven't had much human contact in a decade at least. Because PSL is the only time of the year that people in Pakistan are actually excited about cricket. Gone are the days of 2007 and 2011 when ppl used to folk together in front of shops to watch group games in the WC. These days most middle-class people are not interested in Pakistan cricket, many don't even know the names of active players.

Yet when PSL comes people are suddenly interested, interest is generated from the unlikeliest places. It's like a mini-festival, People look forward to it and enjoy it. If you think that is "tamasha" then tune out and don't watch. No need to chide others for watching it.

I haven't questioned the popularity of the league. I'm not blind to the packed houses or TV viewing figures, if some enjoy PSL for the entertainment value good for them. However I won't tag along with the diehards who claim PSL is the pinnacle of T20 franchise cricket, and who repeatedly boast about the bowling quality.

3 of the 5 all-time leading PSL runscorers are Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad. All of whom have been repeatedly exposed in internationals. A pensioner like Luke Ronchi is the second leading overseas batsman (with the best SR of anyone in the top 10 !). So that doesn't speak well of both the local batting and bowling standards.

PSL doesn't compare with IPL in terms of quality of overseas players. When your leading overseas cricketers are the likes of Ben Dunk and Cameron Delport, need I say any more ? As for producing players for the national team, PSL stars have failed miserably in international cricket like Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Musa Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.

Even looking at PSL purely from a financial lens, it has failed too. How many of the franchises are actually making money ? Most of them are in the red and were begging PCB for changes to the revenue model.

Most of the ones calling PSL out don't watch Test cricket let alone Quaid-e-Azam trophy. Which was apparent from the interest in those threads.

If you see the QEA Trophy threads from Round 1-10, I think I posted in every single one of them.

And what I saw was a competition with quality coverage, youngsters being promoted and selection on merit. More than can be said for the blessed PSL.

 

[KoyoAli]

I haven't questioned the popularity of the league. I'm not blind to the packed houses or TV viewing figures, if some enjoy PSL for the entertainment value good for them. However I won't tag along with the diehards who claim PSL is the pinnacle of T20 franchise cricket, and who repeatedly boast about the bowling quality.

3 of the 5 all-time leading PSL runscorers are Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad. All of whom have been repeatedly exposed in internationals. A pensioner like Luke Ronchi is the second leading overseas batsman (with the best SR of anyone in the top 10 !). So that doesn't speak well of both the local batting and bowling standards.

PSL doesn't compare with IPL in terms of quality of overseas players. When your leading overseas cricketers are the likes of Ben Dunk and Cameron Delport, need I say any more ? As for producing players for the national team, PSL stars have failed miserably in international cricket like Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Musa Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.

Even looking at PSL purely from a financial lens, it has failed too. How many of the franchises are actually making money ? Most of them are in the red and were begging PCB for changes to the revenue model.


If you see the QEA Trophy threads from Round 1-10, I think I posted in every single one of them.

And what I saw was a competition with quality coverage, youngsters being promoted and selection on merit. More than can be said for the blessed PSL.

Nothing you say matches the context of this thread. I am not comparing IPL with PSl, I am not talking about the standard of cricket either.

My problem lies with what this thread is, which is basically calling PSL the worst thing in Pakistan cricket. Tell me which t20 tournament in Pakistan is better than the PSL. If PSL is the worst thing in Pakistan cricket than everything else must be better than PSL right? So tell me what is?

 

[UzmanBeast]

I haven't questioned the popularity of the league. I'm not blind to the packed houses or TV viewing figures, if some enjoy PSL for the entertainment value good for them. However I won't tag along with the diehards who claim PSL is the pinnacle of T20 franchise cricket, and who repeatedly boast about the bowling quality.

3 of the 5 all-time leading PSL runscorers are Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad. All of whom have been repeatedly exposed in internationals. A pensioner like Luke Ronchi is the second leading overseas batsman (with the best SR of anyone in the top 10 !). So that doesn't speak well of both the local batting and bowling standards.

PSL doesn't compare with IPL in terms of quality of overseas players. When your leading overseas cricketers are the likes of Ben Dunk and Cameron Delport, need I say any more ? As for producing players for the national team, PSL stars have failed miserably in international cricket like Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Musa Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.

Even looking at PSL purely from a financial lens, it has failed too. How many of the franchises are actually making money ? Most of them are in the red and were begging PCB for changes to the revenue model.


If you see the QEA Trophy threads from Round 1-10, I think I posted in every single one of them.

And what I saw was a competition with quality coverage, youngsters being promoted and selection on merit. More than can be said for the blessed PSL.

I agree with what you've said, but a team was weak as Pakistan, especially going into the T20 World Cup, has to use such events as a platform for judging performances and selecting players.

You look at our team right now, and barely anyone has a guaranteed spot, except for maybe Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Hafeez.

Everyone else has not done enough to claim a permanent spot on the team. You have a bunch of regulars with the team (ie. Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, etc.) but the minute a player performs better than them, you'll see them being replaced or benched.

From the standpoint of building a team, a tournament like the PSL will succeed in providing some options who are capable of playing against better bowling attacks than in the domestic tournaments and will have the same or similar expectations as international matches demand.

Sure you'll see a bunch of hacks and technically poor players hit a few sixes and watch people demand for their inclusion in the team, but looking at Mohammad Wasim, I think that an event like the PSL could clear a lot of selection doubts from his mind right now.

For example, if Sharjeel Khan fails miserably in the PSL, Wasim won't bother at all, and he'll instead be able to focus on a different area, perhaps a makeshift opener or someone who can be developed for the role in the 20 or so games we have before the T20 WC. That's just an example, I'm not oblivious to the fact that Rizwan is trying hard to claim that opener spot.

The point is that the downsides of the PSL are being portrayed by what the fans are adamant about, and that shouldn't be the case. It's a league that can help our young players reach a platform where they can perform.

We might not have international stars in the mix, but that was always going to happen. Given how long the IPL is, and the fact that they're adding more teams to make it longer, I don't expect international cricketers to have enough time out of their year to play both IPL and PSL. IPL is also a smart organization, they would know that they're the best league, and will try to increase the number of teams to eliminate competition, and maximize their own revenue.

What I'm saying is that between now and the T20 World Cup, we have the PSL and 20 odd T20I games. The PSL will play a massive role in sorting the cream from the crop. Players will have expectations, and if they can't perform, they won't be in the plans for the future.

The league hasn't started yet, so when it does, we'll have a better idea of how well we can trust the results and performances of the players.

 

[Kroll]

I agree with what you've said, but a team was weak as Pakistan, especially going into the T20 World Cup, has to use such events as a platform for judging performances and selecting players.

You look at our team right now, and barely anyone has a guaranteed spot, except for maybe Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Hafeez.

Everyone else has not done enough to claim a permanent spot on the team. You have a bunch of regulars with the team (ie. Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, etc.) but the minute a player performs better than them, you'll see them being replaced or benched.

From the standpoint of building a team, a tournament like the PSL will succeed in providing some options who are capable of playing against better bowling attacks than in the domestic tournaments and will have the same or similar expectations as international matches demand.

Sure you'll see a bunch of hacks and technically poor players hit a few sixes and watch people demand for their inclusion in the team, but looking at Mohammad Wasim, I think that an event like the PSL could clear a lot of selection doubts from his mind right now.

For example, if Sharjeel Khan fails miserably in the PSL, Wasim won't bother at all, and he'll instead be able to focus on a different area, perhaps a makeshift opener or someone who can be developed for the role in the 20 or so games we have before the T20 WC. That's just an example, I'm not oblivious to the fact that Rizwan is trying hard to claim that opener spot.

The point is that the downsides of the PSL are being portrayed by what the fans are adamant about, and that shouldn't be the case. It's a league that can help our young players reach a platform where they can perform.

We might not have international stars in the mix, but that was always going to happen. Given how long the IPL is, and the fact that they're adding more teams to make it longer, I don't expect international cricketers to have enough time out of their year to play both IPL and PSL. IPL is also a smart organization, they would know that they're the best league, and will try to increase the number of teams to eliminate competition, and maximize their own revenue.

What I'm saying is that between now and the T20 World Cup, we have the PSL and 20 odd T20I games. The PSL will play a massive role in sorting the cream from the crop. Players will have expectations, and if they can't perform, they won't be in the plans for the future.

The league hasn't started yet, so when it does, we'll have a better idea of how well we can trust the results and performances of the players.

I'd include Riz in there who's been the standout performer. Possibly Hasan but he's just got back so lets see what he can do.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I'd include Riz in there who's been the standout performer. Possibly Hasan but he's just got back so lets see what he can do.

True, but Rizwan doesn't have that much of a sample size of good performances to select from.

If someone like Sharjeel does exceptionally well, Rizwan's spot will be at risk.

If Sharjeel does well, Babar's spot will be unhinged, he will not be dropped or moved from his position.

That's the differentiation I was trying to make.

 

[Saj]

That's not PSL's headache in the first place. It's not PSLs responsibility to give Players rest. It's the managements. And most of the PSL money is being put into Domestic cricket already. Tell me where else is the PSL money going?

Which psl money is going to domestic cricket?

Prove it.

Rather it's lining the pockets of the owners and their cronies and the players who are lucky enough to be picked in it.

The PSL franchises have nothing to do with domestic regional teams.

 

[Titan24]

Because you can take performances internationally seriously. If a player does good there you know they are quality. For PSL it means nothing.

If players don't have PSL they will not be overworked, and will have to time rest and gain fitness, and work on their skills - like batsmen would have to work with Yousuf at the NHPC.

PSL can have value only if we invest the money from it into first class cricket and not get carried away with the quality/ performers in it. It certainly can be a good money bag for future building.

Its just a month long tournament and I think there are quite a few gaps which Pakistani players get throughout a normal year (Without Covid and bubbles) so I think just pointing out this one month as something which is preventing players to work on their skills and to gain fitness is a bit harsh.

Irrespective of the debatable cricketing aspects one thing which nobody can argue upon is that number of eyes watching this tournament is more than the domestic cricket (Yes current domestic cricket has hugely increased viewership but, still) and sometimes even more than the bi laterals so having a tournament like this to test young players in such a pressure environment is always good. So it provides a good variety alongside the current domestic system which we have in place. Of course it shouldnt be use as a tool to inducting players directly to one day and test cricket but, ofcourse it can be used as a filter mechanism for the players in the T20 format and even to highlight them to their domestic regional sides for other formats as well.

I agree that money from PSL needs to be put in the domestic system and the grassroots level so that the production line of players remain stable.

 

[Napa]

Lol, I've seen your views on IPL and I totally agree

S

Pant and Pandya would walk into our team in all formats and would be one of the top performers. They are levels above nothing players like that Shadab, Faheem, Asif Ali etc.

Pandya has a test 5fer.pant has test hundreds.

They are not that bad. Was thakur really successful in ipl?

Not sure if it was meant to be sarcasm, in which case the post would end with a "/S" rather than a mere "S".

Thakur took 8 of the 20 Aussie wickets in the Gabba Test besides chipping in with a 67 in the first innings.

 

[Napa]

Which psl money is going to domestic cricket?

Prove it.

Rather it's lining the pockets of the owners and their cronies and the players who are lucky enough to be picked in it.

The PSL franchises have nothing to do with domestic regional teams.

If players get a steady income from playing in the PSL (where selections I believe are largely made on merit), they can develop a professional attitude towards the game and work hard to improve.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Not sure if it was meant to be sarcasm, in which case the post would end with a "/S" rather than a mere "S".

Thakur took 8 of the 20 Aussie wickets in the Gabba Test besides chipping in with a 67 in the first innings.

It was not sarcastic. However, I made that comment a year ago. What has happened was unexpected. I was proven wrong.

 

[shujaatraza]

Which psl money is going to domestic cricket?

Prove it.

Rather it's lining the pockets of the owners and their cronies and the players who are lucky enough to be picked in it.

The PSL franchises have nothing to do with domestic regional teams.

Well the money PCB is earning from PSL surely is financing the domestic cricket.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Way too idealistic to think T20 leagues are going to go away. Not a fan of the format but us 90's fans need to accept the fact that younger fans of cricket can relate mostly to T20's and they are here to stay. Besides they are highly profitable - and that's just the way the world works.

The issue for Pakistan is with the selection. You simply can't select PSL superstars in other formats in international cricket no less and expect them to deliver consistently. But under Mohammad Wasim, selections are more sensible so I doubt PSL will be an issue going forward.

 

[sindhiboy]

Atleast domestic players who won't make the national team get some very needed extra income. We should feel happy for those players.

T20 leagues have put food on the table for many cricketers

 

[Napa]

It was not sarcastic. However, I made that comment a year ago. What has happened was unexpected. I was proven wrong.

I respect you for coming back and replying. I actually did check the date of your post, but confused 2020 for 2021

 

[MenInG]

Think the only real advantage is for the players and the franchises and then there is the entertainment value.

Think a bit of a stretch to say that its improving cricket around the country.

 

[ChTab]

I am dreading the next month. And the reason is that when PSL is happening. Can't wait for every Tom, Dick, Mo and Henry to perform a hacky innings and for fans to start crying out for his selection in the team on the basis of "PSL performances".

Everyone is going to be caught in this spirit and I can't wait for all the knee jerk and reactionary posts

Totally agreed, without any doubt PSL or any other T20 leagues (including IPL) are complete waste of time. What's even worst is that PSL occupies the time which is best for hosting international matches in Pakistan.

 

[Pakhs]

PSL is all about money that PCB is generating, after that it all depends on how that money is reinvested into the system.

 

[Saj]

I think everyone wishes the PSL well and wants it to succeed, but that doesn't mean that people cannot make suggestions for its improvements, or not like it. People shouldn't get worked up or upset about suggestions to make it better and more beneficial for Pakistan cricket.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Way too idealistic to think T20 leagues are going to go away. Not a fan of the format but us 90's fans need to accept the fact that younger fans of cricket can relate mostly to T20's and they are here to stay. Besides they are highly profitable - and that's just the way the world works.

The issue for Pakistan is with the selection. You simply can't select PSL superstars in other formats in international cricket no less and expect them to deliver consistently. But under Mohammad Wasim, selections are more sensible so I doubt PSL will be an issue going forward.

I.am not even a 90s fan..I am a 19 year old teenager and I hate T20 leagues!

 

[HappyWarsFan]

I think everyone wishes the PSL well and wants it to succeed, but that doesn't mean that people cannot make suggestions for its improvements, or not like it. People shouldn't get worked up or upset about suggestions to make it better and more beneficial for Pakistan cricket.

Exactly this. At least improve.the flow of the money of the tournament so we can actually see improves in domestics.

 

[Audrey500]

Lol, I've seen your views on IPL and I totally agree..IPL has brought clowns like Thakur, Pant, Pandya, etc. To India's team, mediocre and inconsistent players. When India has so much better, proper options in domestic cricket .

Same thing in Pakistan with the likes of Shadab, Faheem, Asif Ali, etc.

S

Boy, this tweet did not age well. Pandya and Pant have become amongst the best in the business. Both players are neither inconsistent or mediocre.

 

[MesonK]

To me PSL is just festival cricket. Players can make money, viewers can feel excited. Nothing beyond that.

 

[Markhor]

Pakistan Superspreader League.

 

[OMB]

The worst time of the year just got postponed. your best time begins now..no cricket. Happy?

 

[HappyWarsFan]

The worst time of the year just got postponed. your best time begins now..no cricket. Happy?

Yes I feast on people disappointment