Pakistan Super League To Clash With Indian Premier League In 2025

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Super League is set to clash with the mighty Indian Premier League in the summer of 2025 due to Pakistan's packed home season, which sees them host the ICC Champions Trophy. The IPL's two and half month window starts from March and goes on till the beginning of June.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board has been forced to push back the 10th season of its T20 league from its regular Jaunuary-February window to between March and May as the country is set to host the Champions Trophy in February 2025.

It will be the first time that a T20 League will go head-to-head with the cash-rich IPL. It will be interesting to see which tournament the players, plying their trade in both leagues, pick.

The 2025 Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event to be held in Pakistan in almost 30 years.

Due to security-related issues, Pakistan had missed out on hosting top teams in the previous three Future Tours and Programmes Cycles (FTP).

However, that has changed in the latest cycle, which will see Pakistan play 13 Tests, 26 ODIs and 27 T20Is at home in addition to the Champions Trophy, leading to a packed calendar.

"While finalising our Future Tours Programme 2023-2027 in a tight and densely-packed cricket calendar, we have given priority to context, quality and player workload,” PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said in a statement.

NDTV

 

[Rana]

Yes!!!

Finally

 

[MenInG]

So the players who play both will need to make a choice? Even Andy Flower?

 

[Savak]

This should be a ballsy clash. The players who get rejected by the IPL will be available for the PSL. Both Leagues have a domestic audience. The battle will be for the international viewership.

 

[MenInG]

This should be a ballsy clash. The players who get rejected by the IPL will be available for the PSL. Both Leagues have a domestic audience. The battle will be for the international viewership.

And you expect players to choose PSL over IPL?

 

[Kroll]

This should be a ballsy clash. The players who get rejected by the IPL will be available for the PSL. Both Leagues have a domestic audience. The battle will be for the international viewership.

It's a no contest, everyone is going to choose IPL, and PSL should also reject the IPL rejects.

 

[offstump]

By 2025 Ramiz Raja will have transformed the PSL into a global cricketing powerhouse.

 

[Savak]

It's a no contest, everyone is going to choose IPL, and PSL should also reject the IPL rejects.

No Doubt but not every high profile player is going to be picked in the IPL, they will then have to decide whether they would rather sit at home or play cricket i.e. PSL

 

[Savak]

And you expect players to choose PSL over IPL?

Not every foreign player is going to be picked in the IPL.

 

[Kroll]

No Doubt but not every high profile player is going to be picked in the IPL, they will then have to decide whether they would rather sit at home or play cricket i.e. PSL

PSL might not want them either even if they go into both auctions that's what I was saying rather than the reject having a choice. Might be too late by that time anyway.

 

[Kroll]

By 2025 Ramiz Raja will have transformed the PSL into a global cricketing powerhouse.

Need some middle eastern oligarch to come in or the Saudi PIF.

 

[sweep_shot]

I can see more such clashes in the future. There are simply way too many leagues. Clashes are likely.

No reason for worry though. PSL is PSL and IPL is IPL. Both have their own objectives.

 

[Nasty Naz]

And you expect players to choose PSL over IPL?

No, but what does it matter. It's not like PSL gets crazy high class players anyways. It's usually over the hill players right now anyways.

Now, Pakistan get a chance to pickup some players who are rejected from IPL and won't have anything to do with nothing going on Internationally at the time. I don't think its going to hurt the PSL.

 

[Savak]

I actually like this. No T-20 League will dare clash with the IPL. The PSL will be the first and this experience will be good for PSL.

 

[Rana]

Can’t wait for players falling out with their team owners and jumping the ship to PSL

 

[Saj]

Do many players play both IPL and PSL?

There can't be too many.

 

[Bewal Express]

Don't see a problem. The PSL is just as entertaining and relies on domestic players.

 

[sweep_shot]

Don't see a problem. The PSL is just as entertaining and relies on domestic players.

I think IPL has lost its charm quite a bit. It now relies on gimmicks more than quality.

A lot of the legendary players are retired now (Sanga, Ponting, Mahela, Gayle etc.). So, IPL is not as fun as it was before.

 

[Bewal Express]

I think IPL has lost its charm quite a bit. It now relies on gimmicks more than quality.

A lot of the legendary players are retired now (Sanga, Ponting, Mahela, Gayle etc.). So, IPL is not as fun as it was before.

I never thought it was that good anyway. I caught snippets of it and never got into it.

 

[Rana]

I never thought it was that good anyway. I caught snippets of it and never got into it.

IPL 1 was actually a great show. Till this date the Shoaib Akhtar debut 4fer is the most iconic IPL spell IMO

 

[U$ofA]

I think IPL has lost its charm quite a bit. It now relies on gimmicks more than quality.

A lot of the legendary players are retired now (Sanga, Ponting, Mahela, Gayle etc.). So, IPL is not as fun as it was before.

Does this mean the IPL will not last?

If it's lost it's charm, will also lose eyeballs. Which means reduction in inflow of $$$. Which will make IPL unsustainable.

 

[Bewal Express]

Does this mean the IPL will not last?

If it's lost it's charm, will also lose eyeballs. Which means reduction in inflow of $$$. Which will make IPL unsustainable.

Don't care. It makes no difference

 

[hitthestump]

It's a no contest, everyone is going to choose IPL, and PSL should also reject the IPL rejects.

We really need to come to terms with our position in the hierachy - Pakistan is in no position to reject anyone who is good enough for PSL.

 

[Savak]

Bollywood Stars always negotiate with each other on film release dates and in the event of a clash they shift their dates by a week or two.

Ideally I would like the stakeholders involved ie BCCI, PCB, Indian, Pakistani govts, IPL and PSL franchises to negotiate with each other on the players who will play in the IPL and PSL.

Alas this will not happen

 

[sweep_shot]

Does this mean the IPL will not last?

If it's lost it's charm, will also lose eyeballs. Which means reduction in inflow of $$$. Which will make IPL unsustainable.

No. I didn't say IPL will not last. It is just that quality isn't the same anymore. New guys are not as good as Sanga, Mahela, Gayle, Dilshan, Ponting, Tendulkar etc.

It feels way too robotic and gimmicky nowadays.

Also, number of eyeballs has nothing to do with quality. IPL and T20 tend to attract casual fans; they are not proper fans.

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: The dates of the Pakistan Super League’s 10th edition are set to clash with the Indian Premier League for the first time in 2025 after the International Cricket Council announced the Future Tours Programme cycle for the next four years on Wednesday.

But having to compete with unarguably the strongest franchise cricket tournament in the world is not concerning the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The February-March window, which accommodates the PSL in normal circumstances, will be occupied by the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. The cash rich league in that year, therefore, is scheduled for March-May, almost partly simultaneous with the IPL’s extended window, which runs till the beginning of June.

The clash with the IPL will mean top international players will be unavailable to participate in the PSL, due to the massive amount of money on offer for them in India.

The PCB, however, is looking at the scenario from a different angle. The “philosophy” at the board’s offices is that the PSL “doesn’t need to rely on foreign players to attract eye balls”.

“It’s the local players that make the tournament worth watching,” a PCB official told Dawn on Wednesday.

For the PCB, the PSL’s clash of dates with the IPL may fall in Pakistan’s favour. During the IPL’s window, no international cricket is scheduled, which, according to the official “makes more players available to choose from”.

“The IPL may attract the best of the best players but the best ones will play in the PSL,” said the official.

Dawn understands the PCB preferred giving the national side match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy by scheduling its visit to New Zealand for three One-day Internationals and two T20 games in January 2025 and hosting the Black Caps and South Africa for a 50-over tri-nation series just ahead of the ICC event rather than sticking with the regular PSL window.

Tri-nation cricket will also return to Pakistan’s calendar for the first time since 2004-05 and it will host England and Sri Lanka its second such tournament in October-November 2026.

Pakistan is also set to host the 50-over Asia Cup in September next year. However, there is high probability that India will decline to travel across the border for the continental event due to tense political relations between the neighbouring countries.

Sources said the Asia Cup is organised by the Asian Cricket Council and “a situation where one of the participants pull out is for the ACC to deal with.”

The ICC World Cup in India follows after the Asia Cup and, according to a source, Pakistan will not hesitate to travel for that. However, if India does not return the favour by visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy less than two years later, there are chances the PCB boycotts the 2026 T20 World Cup, also to be hosted by India.

The allocation of the Champions Trophy to Pakistan, however, was approved by the ICC board, which has the representation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI).

According to the FTP, Pakistan will play the lowest number of Test matches (27) as compared to other Test-playing nations. However, all of Pakistan’s Test matches will be played as part of the 2023-25 and 2025-27 World Test Championship cycles.

Three Test-playing countries — Bangladesh, New Zealand and South Africa — have decided to play series against the likes of Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe — teams that are not part of the WTC — while Pakistan have refrained from that, specially due to the fact that hosting Test cricket is expensive with the extensive nature of the format.

Pakistan’s inability to play against India also costs them a minimum of six Test matches, hence a lower number of games than its WTC opponents. The national side still plays one more Test than its last four-year FTP cycle.

In the WTC, Pakistan will play Tests against Australia (away), Bangladesh (home), England (home), South Africa (away), Sri Lanka (away) and West Indies (home), while their matches in the 2025-2027 championship are against Bangladesh (away), England (away), New Zealand (home), South Africa (home), Sri Lanka (home) and West Indies (away).

 

[zoeyfactor]

Players will also evaluate earnings per game potential. If they are playing 22-25 games across 3 months compared to 12-14 games across a month for the same $250k as an example.
Also, this is 2-3 years out so not sure why such a hype now.

 

[Savak]

Players will also evaluate earnings per game potential. If they are playing 22-25 games across 3 months compared to 12-14 games across a month for the same $250k as an example.
Also, this is 2-3 years out so not sure why such a hype now.

IPL franchises will make sure that even their minimum wages are significantly higher than what the PSL will offer.

 

[Titan24]

While I am was not in favor of having a league at the time of IPL but, I believe it would go pretty smoothly with no international cricket at that time and quite a few quality players who don't play IPL would be fully available.

 

[Saj]

The likes of Tim David will have a choice to make.

Money could be the key.

 

[U$ofA]

Don't care. It makes no difference

True for anyone that is not in India or Indian expat in US/UK etc.

 

[U$ofA]

No. I didn't say IPL will not last. It is just that quality isn't the same anymore. New guys are not as good as Sanga, Mahela, Gayle, Dilshan, Ponting, Tendulkar etc.

It feels way too robotic and gimmicky nowadays.

Also, number of eyeballs has nothing to do with quality. IPL and T20 tend to attract casual fans; they are not proper fans.

Gimmicks usually do not last long. Will not keep people interested in the long run. Which is why I posed the question of IPL lasting.

I do realize that a bunch of broadcasters just fought for rights and will end up paying $6 Billion. Which would indicate that the IPL is on a very strong footing.

 

[U$ofA]

IPL franchises will make sure that even their minimum wages are significantly higher than what the PSL will offer.

With the new broadcasting deal the salaries on offer are going to get a big hike.

 

[Savak]

The stakeholders should resolve things and co-operate on players just like Bollywood stars do whenever their films are clashing.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

If IPL and PSL are going to clash then get ready to see trends on social media asking IPL fans to boycott those players who participate in PSL.

 

[Kroll]

We really need to come to terms with our position in the hierachy - Pakistan is in no position to reject anyone who is good enough for PSL.

Of course but we can't use the PSL as an insurance policy for rejects, this is only specific to the 25 tournament. There has to be some principles and there would be endless trolling by Indians if we allowed it.

 

[MenInG]

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The head of the global cricketers union (FICA) warns the drain of talent from the international game to Twenty20 leagues is a bigger concern than ever and the official 2023-2027 calendar will do nothing to address the issue.

Mushrooming T20 leagues have turned cricket's labour market on its head, presenting a scenario where players can earn significantly more from these gigs than they possibly can from international cricket.

"We have highlighted flight of talent away from international cricket as a critical issue for the game for a number of years, and it is now starting to impact on bigger countries, not just the smaller ones," FICA chief executive Tom Moffat told Reuters.

"Solutions to this issue require collective global thinking, collaboration, and compromise, to ensure a balanced global calendar that enables international cricket and domestic leagues to co-exist."

New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult may already have set the trend earlier this month when he negotiated a "significantly reduced role" with the national team so he could prioritise Twenty20 cricket. read more

Many prominent West Indies players have turned Twenty20 freelancers, while the top Afghan players are mostly seen in franchise cricket.

Franchise-based Twenty20 leagues, offering fast-paced action and live music often with cheerleaders around, have proliferated especially after the success of the trend-setting Indian Premier League.

Competition among those leagues is only going to raise the money on offer and make them even more attractive for players tiring of the rigours of international cricket.

Leading players from top countries are clearly already struggling to cope with the demands of international cricket's packed calendar.

South Africa's stumper-batsman Quinton de Kock quit test cricket last year, while England test captain Ben Stokes dropped the 50-overs format last month citing an "unsustainable" workload. read more

NO RESPITE

The International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years promises no respite, if anything packing in more international cricket than the previous cycle. read more

"With this FTP, we have ended up with another situation of everyone wanting more of everything," Moffat said.

"Cricket has a small player employment market it's the same group of players that are in high demand in both the domestic leagues and international cricket landscapes."

"There is no doubt that the volume of cricket is unlikely to be sustainable for multi-format players, especially in the big countries, moving forward," Moffat added.

The leagues themselves are jostling with each other in their battle for eyeballs.

Come January and two new Twenty20 competitions, in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, will clash with the Big Bash League and the Bangladesh Premier League.

Asked if ICC should regulate those leagues, Moffat said member boards had always been fiercely protective about their own competitions.

"Ultimately the game needs to make a decision as to whether it wants to come together to meaningfully regulate domestic leagues at a global level through the ICC," he said.

"When these discussions have previously taken place, countries have wanted control over their own territories."

Reuters