The eagerly awaited short-form extravaganza, which will take place in Dubai and Sharjah next month, is now set for lift-off after months of prolonged talks and negotiations.
The PSL attempted to convince stars of world cricket to play the tournament in Pakistan but due to ongoing security concerns the five-team format will happen in the UAE, with the likes of home favourites Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir joined by big-hitters from nine different countries including Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen.
However, the event’s chief organiser moved to dismiss any speculation that the new Twenty20 league could instantly compete with the IPL, which has grown to be the biggest of its kind since its inception in 2008.
“No, the PSL is not a rival to the IPL,” the former chief minister of Punjab told Sport360 at the tournament’s launch in Dubai.
“The IPL is in a league of its own, there are more people in India than there is anywhere else in the world. And then all the top broadcasters are Indian, so I don’t think there is any comparison between the two and I don’t think there will be any competition because the leagues will be played at different times.
“Indian players are not going to be playing in the PSL. It’s not because we don’t want them, we do want them, but the Indian cricket board doesn’t let them play in any other league apart from their own. Maybe in time to come that will happen.”
Plans are afoot to take the PSL to Pakistan at the earliest opportunity, which is likely to be in 2017.
Following the success of Zimbabwe’s low-key tour to the country in May last year for three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 fixtures, Sethi is confident the right building blocks have been put in place that prove top-flight cricket can be hosted on home soil without any issues.
And a defining acid test could come next year with Sethi mooting a proposal to host the opening match of the PSL in Lahore and the closing encounter in Karachi.
“The ultimate goal is to bring this tournament back to Pakistan,” he said. “We are going to have a clean ride next year, I’m not saying it’s going to happen but we are going to try and have one or two PSL matches in Pakistan. We are happy to pay players more if they are happy to play in Pakistan.
“We are also planning on bringing some foreign teams to Pakistan this year and if we can demonstrate a track record to show that security has been taken care of, then maybe the PSL can move back to Pakistan sooner rather than later.”
