The PSL play-off format brings unnecessary repetitiveness

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Well, Ive got a few issues about PSL, but for now I will just talk about this very trending play-off style going on in almost every T20 League, with this qualifier, eliminator 1, play-off eliminator 2, (blah blah blah) rubbish sounding names.

The two problems I have with this play-off style is:

(1) The finalists are most likely going to end up playing each other 4 times. Which is simply way too much, its too repetitive, it dulls down the final a bit (even though this isn't realised by most). Teams should be playing each other at most 3 times. 4 times is too much, yes I know some may be wondering "its just a one game difference", but genuinely, these sorts of small differences matter in sports broadcasting, and cricket where the interest is so low, and even if own has interest it very easily declines.

(2) Its too confusing - Most people when they hear this qualifier, eliminator, eliminator 2, decider/final, its too confusing. Once again these things do matter because cricket is a sport that is built on very confusing fundamentals, laws, and so in cricket marketing, broadcasting, in every situation, everything needs to be simple.

Whats the solution? Remove this play-off format, and just have two semi-finals. Simple and easy.

Semi Final 1 - 1st vs 3rd (I guess)
Semi Final 2 - 2nd vs 4th

Final - Winner Semi Final 1 vs Winner Semi-Final 2

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I agree with the post and was thinking the same thing although I dont agree with the conclusion.

There needs to be a reward for finishing 1st in the group and finishing 4th in a 6 team league isn't much of an achievement.

Finish first and you go into the final.

2nd v 3rd battle it out in the semi.

Decreases the chances of a dead rubber in the group stage, the bottom half of the table gets booted out and the winner of the tough league stage is rewarded.

 

[GreenKhan]

I agree with the post and was thinking the same thing although I dont agree with the conclusion.

There needs to be a reward for finishing 1st in the group and finishing 4th in a 6 team league isn't much of an achievement.

Finish first and you go into the final.

2nd v 3rd battle it out in the semi.

Decreases the chances of a dead rubber in the group stage, the bottom half of the table gets booted out and the winner of the tough league stage is rewarded.

There will be more dead rubbers if only the top 3 can qualify.
So that won’t work .

Only other option is a straight semi final shoot out .

1st v 4
2nd v 3rd.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

There will be more dead rubbers if only the top 3 can qualify.
So that won’t work .

Only other option is a straight semi final shoot out .

1st v 4
2nd v 3rd.

The reason why the qualifier/eliminator system was brought in (originally in the IPL) was because it’s not fair that a team finish top and then get eliminated after one more game.

Personally I’m fine with it. It makes more sense in an 8 team league.

 

[Savak]

How does it work in the IPL?

 

[ArabKnight]

Adding more teams will resolve this. You should be asking for more teams rather than talking about cutting games. This is completely backwards thinking.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Adding more teams will resolve this. You should be asking for more teams rather than talking about cutting games. This is completely backwards thinking.

Yep, adding more teams is another solution I have, but I will be talking about this in another thread. I don't see the backwards thinking though.

 

[Krypton]

How does it work in the IPL?

I think this playoff format was initialised in IPL first earlier it was 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd.

 

[ElRaja]

most leagues are full of dead rubbers, the format pbly works if u end up with eight teams eventually. unfortunately pak dont have enough domestic talent, or money for international talent, to support 8 teams.

 

[proud_pakistani]

I think a normal semi final is good. 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. Its already an advantage the top team plays the weakest of the 4 teams.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I think team finishing 1st should go straight to final.

Winner of 3rd vs 4th semi should face 2nd placed team and then the winner of that goes to final.

 

[KyoOne]

It is fine. Top two teams get an insurance of losing one game in case they have a bad day.

In fact ICC should adopt the same format. Maybe change the names if it's too confusing. Maybe call Qualifier as Semifinal 1, Eliminator Quarter final, Eliminator 2 as Semifinal 2.