By Our Correspondent
A senior member of country’s national assembly and a member of parliament’s standing committee, Iqbal Mohammad Ali has demanded prime minister Nawaz Sharif to stop the privatization of Pakistan’s Super League, claiming it will help some individuals and damaging for the game.
Ali has written a letter with some serious facts to PM Nawaz Sharif, wlaos the patron of Pakistan Cricket Board, reasoning that the privatization will tantamount to suicidal for country’s cricket.
“The privatization will prove suicidal for cricket in Pakistan and should be avoided in public interest,” wrote Ali.
The inaugural edition of the Twenty20 league PSL was successfully held in Dubai and Sharjah in February this year.
PSL chairman Najam Sethi declared a profit of 2.6 million dollars, from which two millions were shared with the five franchises who inducted their teams in the first edition.
Sethi announced PSL will be a separate entity but under the custody of the PCB from next year. The decision was taken after a Board of Governor’s meeting in Lahore on November 8 with a separate staff with a separate entity.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan admitted he had reservations over the privatization but agreed to it after assurances from Sethi.
Ali accused privatization will benefit some individuals.
“The privatization will only benefit some individuals,” said Ali without naming anyone. “Once the PSL is separated then PCB will not have funds for domestic cricket where we cannot afford to import Kookaburra balls.
“We have begged funds from the International Cricket Council so PSL should not be privatized,” said Ali. “Players will only play PSL and will get early retirements because they would not like to play domestic and international cricket.”
Ali accused lavish money spending on PSL dinner and drafts.
“The draft was held in Dubai and a dinner was hosted in Lahore where PCB had to spend forty million rupees which is a waste of money,” said Ali.
Ali said he hoped PM Sharif will take note of his letter.
Ali reasoned that India’s successful league , the Indian Premier League, is still under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) despite holding nine successful editions.