Doha to host first edition of PSL

Ending speculation, the PCB on Wednesday announced Doha, Qatar as the venue for hosting the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from February 4-24 next year.

Najam Sethi, Chairman of the PCB’s influential executive committee, said the Board had planned special rehabilitation programs for the two players whose spot-fixing bans expire on September 1, allowing them to return to cricket. He said that franchises from the city of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad would take part in the league while 15 worldwide players have agreed to take part in the tournament.

Khan also hinted that the current players are not happy with the return of Asif & Butt and the players first have to earn confidence of their colleagues & a place in the dressing room before thinking of a place in national team. “We have been in disgrace these last many years, and it’s a big stigma on Pakistan cricket”.

While admitting that Qatar, hosts of Football World Cup 2022, is a relatively unknown cricket centre, PCB chief Najam Sethi said the board is confident that the Qatar Olympic body and the country’s national cricket association will offer their full cooperation and that top facilities would be provided for the League.

The Twenty20 League will have a collective prize purse of upto United States dollars one million.

“I can confirm that a number of parties are now talking to us and are interested in picking up the franchises”.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed PCB’s decision to hold the first edition of Pakistan Super League in Doha.

In line with the tournament’s commercial plan, rights for broadcast, sponsorship, and franchise ownership will be sold over the next three months. The tournament will be formally launched in Lahore in late September. They will also play Tests at Emirates, Old Trafford, Edgbaston and the Kia Oval.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan rebuffed suggestions from newly-appointed ICC president Zaheer Abbas that Pakistan should show flexibility and even consider going to India for their bilateral series.

“We were very hopeful that a lot of ice would melt with the NSA level talks and it would help cricket but unfortunately things are not looking good now for the series in December”, he said.