PSL 7: PCB mulling over conducting auction instead of drafting to attract more overseas players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises are mulling over conducting an auction instead of player drafting for the seventh edition of the PSL. As per a report in Cricket Pakistan, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja met with the franchises on Friday, 25th September, and said he wants to make PSL bigger than the Indian Premier League (IPL). Raja feels that conducting an auction will attract more international superstars. Notably, an auction will lead to greater pay to the players as compared to drafts, where the players are given pre-determined salaries.

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Meanwhile, as per reports, the 2022 edition of the PSL is likely to get underway on January 25. The tournament was set to start in the first week of January but was delayed to avoid clash with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) that will be played from December 5 - January 28.

Also, Ramiz Raja is keen on staging the tournament in Gilgit-Baltistan after upgrading the local stadium to international standards. However, organising the tournament in Pakistan will depend on the COVID-19 situation in the country. The same forced the previous season of the PSL to split into two parts. After being postponed, the second leg of the tournament was played in UAE.

UAE has emerged as a safe alternative venue for the Asian countries. The second leg of IPL and the T20 World Cup was also moved out of India to UAE. PCB won’t a take chance with the upcoming season of PSL thus if there is any doubt, they can stage the tournament in UAE.

Normally, the PSL is played in March-April but PCB preponed the tournament due to the home series against Australia in March. However, the series is in jeopardy after New Zealand and England’s withdrawal of their Pakistan tours due to security issues.