Karachi: At the meeting of the stakeholders of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the matter of buying respective regional cricket was also discussed and only two teams expressed slight reluctance to the idea. “Three teams – Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators proposed to buy regional cricket while Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United sought time to think over the idea”, said a source.
The meeting, under PSL chief Najam Sethi, was held in Lahore, on Friday, to discuss ways and means to make the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) more successful and vibrant.
The meeting also discussed the idea of staging the final of the next PSL in Lahore, however, the proposal is still subjected to security clearance and the approval of the players and officials involved.
The players’ draft for the PSL-2 is set to take place in October with UAE emerging as a likely venue since leading players will be engaged in Pakistan’s home series in the UAE.
Moreover, as per the PCB press release, it was decided that the teams might retain up to 16 players from their existing squads. All players who were brought on board by a team, regardless of whether they played, are eligible for retention. The retention window will also provide teams with a chance to renegotiate with existing players and the window closes on 14th September 2016. The transfer window is concurrently open with teams in a position to leverage their draft picks and/or existing squads to find an ideal balance.
The five franchises unanimously agreed to an increase in the salary cap to USD 1.2 million for the PSL-2. It was also decided that all players in the emerging players’ category will have to be Under-23 as of 1st January 2017 with at least one player from the home region of the franchise.
“We are buoyed by the success of HBL PSL-1 and things are now getting into an exciting phase for season 2. I can promise that HBL PSL 2 will be bigger and better, and we will leave no stone unturned in bringing unparalleled cricketainment to the fans. We will also try our best to stage the final of HBL PSL 2 in Pakistan,” said Chairman PSL, Najam Sethi.
Furthermore, the legendary former New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum, and current England T20 and ODI captain, Eoin Morgan, have consented to take part in the HBL PSL Player Draft.
The PSL-2 is set to return to action in February 2017.
The writer is a Pakistani sports journalist & tweets @mak_asif