Amid India-Pakistan dispute over Champions Trophy, PSL team owners write to PCB over clash with IPL 2025

Amid the ongoing dispute between India and and Pakistan regarding next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, owners of franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have written to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seeking clarity on availability of foreign players for the 2025 edition, which is set to clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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A well-informed source close to PSL franchise owners told PTI that they have written a letter to new PSL director Salman Naseer asking him to convene a meeting to address their concerns.

“The owners want the PCB to give them clarity which players would be available for the PSL if the IPL is also being held at the same time and also about broadcasting schedules,” the source told PTI.

“The owners are worried because of lack of clarity. The England and Wales Cricket Board and some other boards are talking about restrictions on their players playing in leagues so they want clarity ahead of the PSL players draft.”

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, which returns after an eight-year absence, was scheduled to be hosted by defending champions Pakistan in the months of February and March next year, which is the usual window for its showpiece franchise-based T20 league.

As a result of the Champions Trophy being scheduled for early 2025, the 10th edition of the PSL will like begin in mid-to-late March with the season co-inciding with the first half of the 18th season of the IPL.

With the Indian league being considerably more influential with his superior pool of players as well as salaries along with broadcast rights that amounted to a whopping INR 48,390 crore in 2022, top players in the PSL invariably will be expected to choose their IPL franchises if such a clash arises.

The PSL franchise owners were further worried about their concerns being put on the back-burner due to the PCB’s ongoing dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who had earlier refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy over security concerns.

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Some of the owners have asked Naseer to make good on the board’s promise of setting up an independent PSL secretariat.

“Some of the franchise owners have asked Salman Naseer to follow up on the promise of setting up an independent PSL secretariat which has not happened in 10 years,” the source added.

The PSL team owners will set with the PCB after the conclusion of the 10th season next year to revisit their agreements and financial bonds.