PCB pick Doha over Dubai as inaugural PSL hosts

Sport360 staff 17:26 26/08/2015
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  • The PSL will run in February 2016.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Doha, Qatar, as the venue for the first edition of the Pakistan Super League, slated to take place from February 4-24, 2016. 

    Najam Sethi, chairman of the PSL governing council and the PCB executive committee, made the announcement in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, ending any hopes that the UAE would stage the competition.

    “The wait is now over and we are here to tell you of our intent to stage the PSL. The way we see it, PSL is not just about cricket. It is a unique blend of entertainment and cricket which will be the most exciting Pakistani product,” said Sethi.

    After extensive negotiations with various stakeholders, the PSL decided on Doha as its preferred location for the tournament.

    The 5-team competition will feature a total of 24 matches in this, its first edition.

    “We are starting with 5 teams in order to build the value of our franchises and we will expand the number of teams in the coming editions,” added Sethi.

    Sethi also claimed that top foreign players from all test-playing nations except India have expressed an interest in signing up for the PSL, with over 40 international players already signed up and they plan to add coaches to that list.

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    The tournament will carry collective prize money of up to $1 million (Dhs3.673m).

    Sethi also informed the press about the interest of potential commercial stakeholders in the league.

    “I can confirm that a number of parties are currently talking to us and are interested in picking up the franchises. Similarly, we have great interest being shown from broadcasters and sponsors,” he said.

    In line with the tournament’s commercial plan, rights for broadcast, sponsorship, and franchise ownership will be sold over the next three months. With the venue settled upon, the formal PSL launch will take place in Lahore in the third week of September. 

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