My not so positive take on the Pakistan Super League

[MMHS]

The solution is to host the ENTIRE PSL in Pakistan next year and reduce foreign quota to 3 players. Quality > Quantity ofc.

Players who are willing to go this year would probably be fine with playing the entire tournament in Pakistan next year (assuming everything goes well iA). That means players like Duminy, Ronchi, Rossouw, Tahir, Morkel, Miller (World XI series), Tamim, Shakib, Fizz would be willing to come. They aren’t “shooperstars” but they are still quality players who will boost the overall quality of the league.

Add Mahmud & Mushi from BD; Tisera, Perera, Mendis, Angelo from SRL; Taylor, Sikandar from ZIM; may be Mac, Devecic, Shodhi from NZ; Holder, Lewis, Sammy, Simmons, Badree, Narine from WIN; Rashid, Nabi, Mujeeb from AFG; Jordan, Bopara, Moeen, Adil, Dawson from Pomland ...... and may be Amla - that's more than enough to keep 4 foreigners in XI. Besides, few other Poms, Kiwis & Aussies might come as well.

Players are not any issue - rather it's PCB & their presidential security....

 

[babajee]

Add Mahmud & Mushi from BD; Tisera, Perera, Mendis, Angelo from SRL; Taylor, Sikandar from ZIM; may be Mac, Devecic, Shodhi from NZ; Holder, Lewis, Sammy, Simmons, Badree, Narine from WIN; Rashid, Nabi, Mujeeb from AFG; Jordan, Bopara, Moeen, Adil, Dawson from Pomland ...... and may be Amla - that's more than enough to keep 4 foreigners in XI. Besides, few other Poms, Kiwis & Aussies might come as well.

Players are not any issue - rather it's PCB & their presidential security....

Another year of PSL in UAE and it might die.

 

[Ellipsism]

I doubt we’ll get any foreign players if all fixtures of the PSL are shifted to Pakistan. Currently we’re hosting games here and there were practically the entire city is shut down and players are locked in a hotel like prisoners. Pakistan won’t be able to provide presidential level security every day for a month (or however the long the PSL is) it’s simply not financially nor realistically feasible.

 

[MMHS]

I doubt we’ll get any foreign players if all fixtures of the PSL are shifted to Pakistan. Currently we’re hosting games here and there were practically the entire city is shut down and players are locked in a hotel like prisoners. Pakistan won’t be able to provide presidential level security every day for a month (or however the long the PSL is) it’s simply not financially nor realistically feasible.

There is a solution for that as well - make rolling roster. All players don't need to stay entire period - they can come for a week in rolling roster till the eliminators; then play the best 4. On top of that, some players might stay for full 5 weeks - that's bonus.

Look, the situation isn't ideal of course, but that's where operational innovation comes. Rolling roster might cost more, but that'll be WELL compensated by 35,000 full house every game and the endorsements.

 

[rhony]

Increase the top player comp to 500K USD. I'm sure people wont mind sitting in their hotel rooms for a few weeks for a sweet half mil. Thats more than what IPL offers pro rata.

 

[90MPH]

I watched the PSL a lot in the first year - more down to curiosity rather than excitement.

Last year Only the final and bits here or there in between..

This year again hardly nothing - just far too many T20 leagues around the world that are nothing but about making money so make me really disinterested.

So while I always be more a traditional International Cricket can I understand that many others find this exciting - however for PSL to be a success it can’t rely playing in the Middle East. They also need to give younger talent a chance to flourish.

 

[Markhor]

Competition to IPL ? What a joke. PSL is nothing more than a glitzed up version of Faysal Bank T20 featuring the same journeyman cricketers we've seen countless times.

Criticising selections have become a national pastime but the PSL has plummeted new depths in this regard - with selections are based on favouritism instead of merit. What else explains the inclusion of Jahid Ali ? He possesses tailender stats in limited overs cricket but is lucky enough to be Rashid Latif's blue eyed boy. What explains the grossly overweight Azam Khan landing a contract other than his relationship to Moin Khan ? Now the cherry on the cake is the drafting of Salman Butt who's never been considered a T20 batsman.

Then there are the poor, sluggish surfaces the matches are being played on where a par score is between 130-140. Watching teams stutter for 20 overs, struggling to hit the ball cleanly or rotate strike, is of little interest to the viewers.

Even the much hyped "PSL products" have all been exposed at international level with the exception of 2-3 names.

The PSL is not a sacred cow. We must analyse this league with objectivity and take our green tinted glasses off.

 

[Theo_14]

Firstly, the crowd has been awful. I’m not even talking about weekdays, I mean even on the weekends. The camera has been focusing on the VIP box etc and at times the party box look clueless which is just embarrassing.

What is most disappointing is the of lack determination by teams to use rookies or youngsters in the side - instead players like Tanvir, Shehzad etc have been persisted with - This also tells me that clearly domestic cricket are not producing many flood of talents with world class potential or fear factor? Whole purpose of PSL was for youngsters to be integrated at Intl level.

Truth is, for the Foreign players, this league is a good catch up with buddies like Malik, Afridi etc, a nice paycheck and a King/Queen esque reception/treatment; it’s a holiday resort for Darren Sammy, not a competitive league like the IPL.

The coverage, graphics have been shocking too. I just find it strange how people can even compare PSL to IPL, let alone say PSL is better than IPL. Let’s be realistic and logical.

1 year on and the same issues still exist............

 

[Hasan123]

Competition to IPL ? What a joke. PSL is nothing more than a glitzed up version of Faysal Bank T20 featuring the same journeyman cricketers we've seen countless times.

Criticising selections have become a national pastime but the PSL has plummeted new depths in this regard - with selections are based on favouritism instead of merit. What else explains the inclusion of Jahid Ali ? He possesses tailender stats in limited overs cricket but is lucky enough to be Rashid Latif's blue eyed boy. What explains the grossly overweight Azam Khan landing a contract other than his relationship to Moin Khan ? Now the cherry on the cake is the drafting of Salman Butt who's never been considered a T20 batsman.

Then there are the poor, sluggish surfaces the matches are being played on where a par score is between 130-140. Watching teams stutter for 20 overs, struggling to hit the ball cleanly or rotate strike, is of little interest to the viewers.

Even the much hyped "PSL products" have all been exposed at international level with the exception of 2-3 names.

The PSL is not a sacred cow. We must analyse this league with objectivity and take our green tinted glasses off.

A certain poster who cries about nepotism chooses not to comment on his own franchise selecting Jahid Ali which is clearly for non cricketing reason

But agree with your sentiments. PSL is no competition for the IPL. The low scores have very little to do with the quality of bowling. More to do with those awful UAE pitches.

 

[Savak]

Competition to IPL ? What a joke. PSL is nothing more than a glitzed up version of Faysal Bank T20 featuring the same journeyman cricketers we've seen countless times.

Criticising selections have become a national pastime but the PSL has plummeted new depths in this regard - with selections are based on favouritism instead of merit. What else explains the inclusion of Jahid Ali ? He possesses tailender stats in limited overs cricket but is lucky enough to be Rashid Latif's blue eyed boy. What explains the grossly overweight Azam Khan landing a contract other than his relationship to Moin Khan ? Now the cherry on the cake is the drafting of Salman Butt who's never been considered a T20 batsman.

Then there are the poor, sluggish surfaces the matches are being played on where a par score is between 130-140. Watching teams stutter for 20 overs, struggling to hit the ball cleanly or rotate strike, is of little interest to the viewers.

Even the much hyped "PSL products" have all been exposed at international level with the exception of 2-3 names.

The PSL is not a sacred cow. We must analyse this league with objectivity and take our green tinted glasses off.

Oh please, the PSL is atleast much better than the BPL, CPL at the very least. It took the IPL billions of dollars of investment, million dollar plus salaries, heavy bollywood endorsement, Corporate India endorsement to get to where it is today, even the ECB T-20 leagues and the Australian Big Bash falls short in comparison.

Playing the league in the UAE is a majboori not in the PCB's hands, even when the IPL was played in the UAE there were plenty of low scores. The very few matches played in Pakistan, it was extraordinary to see the ball racing to the boundary and balls landing one bounce into the fence from just cricketing shots.

 

[Cric1234]

The pitches favour bowlers more in UAE but they also offer competitiveness some score are over 150 some under whereas IPL is basically a batsmans tournament why can't Gayle McCullum ABD and others play like they do in IPL they should have the class to do well anywhere they are being outperformed by some Pakistani batsmen.

 

[Savak]

The pitches favour bowlers more in UAE but they also offer competitiveness some score are over 150 some under whereas IPL is basically a batsmans tournament why can't Gayle McCullum ABD and others play like they do in IPL they should have the class to do well anywhere they are being outperformed by some Pakistani batsmen.

Barring Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, everyone else has struggled really badly in UAE conditions