NEW DELHI: Veteran Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has launched a sharp critique of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), placing the Indian Premier League well above Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.
Shehzad pointed out how several overseas players continue to commit to the PSL but eventually opt for the IPL when better offers come their way – a trend he believes is hurting Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.
“Ek taraf duniya ki sabse powerful, ameer league IPL hai, aur doosri taraf Pakistan Super League – PSL. Aaj baat karte hain ki kyun bahut saare players PSL ke saath contract hone ke bawajood IPL mein khelte hue nazar aate hain. Players commitment dete hain ki woh PSL mein khelenge, lekin baad mein kai dafa dekha gaya hai ki wahi players IPL choose kar lete hain. Is par baat karni zaroori hai. PSL ka graph kahan ja raha hai, pehle kahan tha, kitni tezi se upar gaya aur phir kitni tezi se neeche aaya – yeh sab bhi discuss hoga.
[On one side, there is the IPL – the most powerful and richest league in the world – and on the other side is the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Today, let’s discuss why many players, despite having PSL contracts, end up playing in the IPL]” Shehzad said.
Shehzad, who played 13 Tests, 81 ODIs and 59 T20Is for Pakistan between 2009 and 2019, stressed that the issue goes beyond just league dynamics and directly impacts Pakistan cricket as a whole.
“Kyuki yeh matter karta hai. Pakistan ki team bhi isi system par depend karti hai. Isliye is par baat karna zaroori hai – kyuki mulk ka maamla hai. Phir stadium ke andar players ki kya soch hoti hai? Kya woh sach mein khelna chahte hain ya nahi? Kya unhe sirf financial benefit mil raha hai ya aur bhi kuch fayda hai? [Because this matters. Pakistan’s national team depends on this system. So this discussion is necessary – it’s about the country. What is the mindset of players inside the stadium? Do they really want to play in the PSL? Do they benefit beyond just financial gains? ]”
The former Pakistan batter also gave multiple examples of high-profile withdrawals, including Dasun Shanaka and Azmatullah Omarzai.
“Har dafa ki tarah, is baar bhi lagbhag 45 bade naamon ne PSL ke liye commitment diya, lekin woh aaye hi nahi. Aap Dasun Shanaka ko dekh lijiye – Sri Lanka aur Pakistan ke relations acche hone ke bawajood, unhe IPL se better offer mila aur woh udhar chale gaye. Phir Azmatullah Omarzai jaise players, jo kisi bhi team ke liye asset hote, woh bhi chale gaye. South African players ne bhi commitment diya, lekin baad mein pull out kar gaye. Abhi bhi kai players hain jinke upar question mark hai – aayenge ya nahi. [Like every year, around 45 big-name players committed to the PSL this time as well, but many didn’t show up. Take Dasun Shanaka for example — despite strong cricketing ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he chose the IPL after receiving a better offer. Players like Azmatullah Omarzai, who could have been key assets, also opted out. South African players too pulled out after committing. Even now, there are several players whose participation remains uncertain].”
According to Shehzad, the PSL’s declining trajectory is closely linked to the expanding global footprint of the IPL and its franchise ecosystem.
“Yahi wajah hai ki PSL ka graph neeche ja raha hai. Competition bahut zyada badh gaya hai. IPL ab sirf India tak limited nahi hai. Indian franchise owners ne duniya bhar ki leagues mein apni jagah bana li hai. Har league mein unki teams hain. Itna hi nahi, kuch players ne paison ke chalte international cricket se retirement tak le liya, taaki woh franchise leagues ke liye loyal reh sakein. Aap Nicholas Pooran ko dekhiye, Kieron Pollard ko dekhiye, Andre Russell – yeh sab isi trend ka hissa hain. Aur Jos Buttler jaise players bhi ab zyada tar franchise cricket par focus karte nazar aate hain. [This is exactly why PSL’s graph is declining. Competition has increased significantly. The IPL is no longer limited to India – Indian franchise owners now have stakes in leagues across the world. In fact, some players have even retired from international cricket to stay loyal to franchise leagues due to financial incentives. Players like Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell have followed this path, and even Jos Buttler is increasingly focused on franchise cricket].”
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