PSL 2017 — all about sustaining momentum

Stakeholders would need to sustain goodwill and unprecedented media hype that 2016 provided

The opening salvo of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) defied expectations, rarely have such glowing accolades used for a product developed by a sporting body in the country.

The league thrived on keen interest by impassioned cricket fanatics who got behind their respective franchises but didn’t begrudge the defeats for their teams too since to quote a senior PSL official, "Even when a fan’s team lost, invariably a favourite or a player of the fan’s city in the rival team won, the overwhelming feeling was that Pakistan won each time a PSL game took place.”

PHOTO: PSL

Such is the nature of these leagues that more often than not or at least in the still evolving inter-franchise cricket rivalries, the fans don’t necessarily bay for blood a tradition of the more established and historic sporting leagues around the world, the onus is on having a good time and if your team wins its more of a bonus.

PSL too succeeded in bringing cricket fans from around the country and the vast Pakistan expat population in the UAE together on one platform, celebration of the talents and skills that are unique to the Pakistan brand.

Preparations have now started in earnest for the 2017 edition of the league, PSL doosra.  A welcome move is the induction of two more widely sought after international stars in the draft for the next season.

PHOTO COURTESY: PSL

New Zealand’s recently retired Brendon McCullum and the steely-eyed English captain Eoin Morgan who was widely tipped to lift the WorldT20 trophy in India last March before Carlos Brathwaite happened. Both these players are going to raise the stakes and the franchises are likely to be in mad rush to snare them.

Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, the two most expensive franchises who had their ambitions cut short by some insipid performances in the first year have the advantage of making their picks before Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and champions Islamabad United.

McCullum might be snapped by Qalandars as their first pick which offers a tantalising prospect of him opening with Chris Gayle — Qalandars' icon player in 2016.

Morgan too can be a valuable pick for Kings or the franchises aiming to bolster their middle-order, of course his vast experience makes him an ideal captaincy candidate too.

PHOTO COURTESY: PSL

The PSL wing of the PCB are negotiating with some other players and more names are expected to strengthen the draws, as was the case last year, all stakeholders have to juggle smartly with their main and supplementary picks.

February 2017 is another packed month for international cricket and for now it seems that South African, New Zealand, Australian and Sri Lankan players or at least their frontline ones might struggle to make a commitment for the entire length of the tournament.

PSL will have to find a way through since it seems that there would always be a grappling for dates and players availability, other than the Indian Premier League (IPL) no league has a ‘sanctioned’ window.

 

PHOTO COURTESY: PSL

But there are other ways where PSL can grow further and create a niche not only in Asia but around the world.

In the first edition the league followed the established practices around the world, each team could field a maximum of four foreign players, it was mandatory to field one emerging player etc, and even the playing conditions mirrored others.

PSL has the potential of carving out its own unique identity; one hopes that in 2017 we will see some innovations emerge. Whether it is the formation of the elevens, more representation of local players — already indicated by PSL wing — tweaks in playing conditions by adding another power play bracket or removal of restrictions on bouncers etc, there’s a definite scope of bringing some added colour to the fanfare.

PHOTO COURTESY: PSL

While the stakeholders aim to produce a bigger and better event than the first one, they would indeed be well placed if they can sustain the goodwill and the unprecedented media hype that 2016 provided, any gains from there would surely be a massive bonus for a league which is still very much in its infancy.

One also hopes that both franchises and the PCB can make their commitment of developing fan parks come true. The league thrives on support with-in the country and while hosting a few games in Lahore and Karachi is still not cast in stone, the stakeholders must seriously look at the possibilities of ensuring that fan parks are built and games screened live, replicating the crowds at the actual venues.