PSL franchises question National T20 Cup’s timing
Feel event should have taken place before draft, hence allowing teams to select good performers
Glaring oversight: The franchises believe the PCB missed out on a win-win situation by scheduling the National T20 Cup before the PSL draft. PHOTO COURTESY: PCB
RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to schedule the National T20 Cup after the draft, hence depriving them of the opportunity to buy players that impress in the domestic competition taking place in Rawalpindi.
"The PSL drafts took place when the National T20 Cup had just started. In fact, only two T20 matches had taken place by that time,” said a franchise official, requesting anonymity. “This means the franchises can’t pick players that perform really well in the tournament. This means the National T20 Cup will give no new players to the franchises. If it was held before the drafts then it would have been a win-win for all parties.”
Other franchises also felt the scheduling could have been handled better, with Multan Sultans and Islamabad United proposing the inclusion of a 21st player in January during the second draft in order to allow the inclusion of any standout performers of the National T20 Cup.
"The reason behind including that 21st player was to give a chance to the players currently playing in the National T20 Cup,” said Multan Sultans general manager Haider Azhar. “The players playing in the National T20 Cup looked so disheartened after the drafts. It was like all the energy had seeped out of them. We therefore decided to ask the PCB to let us include a player in our squad for January.”
The player can be chosen from any region, rather than just from the one the franchise represents. However, he would only be included in the squad for this edition and not for future ones. “We are looking at the National T20 and also at U19 players,” added Azhar.
Islamabad United, like other franchises, also felt it would have been better had the National T20 Cup taken place before the drafts, but added that they worked around the inconvenience.
"We had made plans that weren’t dependent on the National T20,” said Islamabad United manager Hassan Cheema. “Obviously it would have helped to have the tournament before the draft, but we knew about the schedule and planned accordingly. For instance, we had already identified Sahibzada Farhan as an ideal T20 player even if hadn't played a T20 at the National T20 Cup till then.”
‘World XI matches caused postponement’
PCB’s domestic cricket director Haroon Rasheed clarified that the intention was indeed to hold the National T20 Cup before the draft but that it was postponed due to the tour of the World XI.
"The cup was originally meant to be held in August and September, but got delayed due to World XI matches,” he said. “The date for the drafts was fixed beforehand and since we couldn't find any good spot for National T20 we had to organise it in this slot.”
Rasheed also confirmed that the decision to include a 21st player in the PSL team was to motivate those currently playing in the National T20.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to schedule the National T20 Cup after the draft, hence depriving them of the opportunity to buy players that impress in the domestic competition taking place in Rawalpindi.
"The PSL drafts took place when the National T20 Cup had just started. In fact, only two T20 matches had taken place by that time,” said a franchise official, requesting anonymity. “This means the franchises can’t pick players that perform really well in the tournament. This means the National T20 Cup will give no new players to the franchises. If it was held before the drafts then it would have been a win-win for all parties.”
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Other franchises also felt the scheduling could have been handled better, with Multan Sultans and Islamabad United proposing the inclusion of a 21st player in January during the second draft in order to allow the inclusion of any standout performers of the National T20 Cup.
"The reason behind including that 21st player was to give a chance to the players currently playing in the National T20 Cup,” said Multan Sultans general manager Haider Azhar. “The players playing in the National T20 Cup looked so disheartened after the drafts. It was like all the energy had seeped out of them. We therefore decided to ask the PCB to let us include a player in our squad for January.”
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The player can be chosen from any region, rather than just from the one the franchise represents. However, he would only be included in the squad for this edition and not for future ones. “We are looking at the National T20 and also at U19 players,” added Azhar.
Islamabad United, like other franchises, also felt it would have been better had the National T20 Cup taken place before the drafts, but added that they worked around the inconvenience.
"We had made plans that weren’t dependent on the National T20,” said Islamabad United manager Hassan Cheema. “Obviously it would have helped to have the tournament before the draft, but we knew about the schedule and planned accordingly. For instance, we had already identified Sahibzada Farhan as an ideal T20 player even if hadn't played a T20 at the National T20 Cup till then.”
‘World XI matches caused postponement’
PCB’s domestic cricket director Haroon Rasheed clarified that the intention was indeed to hold the National T20 Cup before the draft but that it was postponed due to the tour of the World XI.
"The cup was originally meant to be held in August and September, but got delayed due to World XI matches,” he said. “The date for the drafts was fixed beforehand and since we couldn't find any good spot for National T20 we had to organise it in this slot.”
Rasheed also confirmed that the decision to include a 21st player in the PSL team was to motivate those currently playing in the National T20.