Organisers claim that the decision to postpone the league is due to overwhelming response. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ/EXPRESS/FILE
The Pakistan Cricket Board had planned to stage the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from March 26 as the first step towards reviving international cricket in the country.
No international cricket has been played in Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during a Test match in Lahore in 2009 and the country is still rocked by almost daily bombings and shootings.
The PCB says around 80 foreign players have already signed for the league but a warning from the Federation of Cricketers Association to international players not to tour has also prompted Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa to hint their players will not feature in the PSL.
Despite the warnings, the PCB said the reason for rescheduling the event was that they needed more time to tackle the overwhelming response.
"PSL got an overwhelming response from sponsors, broadcasters and players. However, there are several other investors who would like us to give them more time for our various rights," PSL managing director Salman Sarwar Butt said, without announcing new dates.
The PCB will be hard pressed to find another time slot soon as the sixth edition of the more lucrative and attractive Indian Premier League will be held April 3-May 26.
Reports in Pakistani media suggested that the PSL could also be hit by general elections due in May, with the pre-poll preparations starting next month.
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said the extra breathing space would give his board a better opportunity to prepare.
"We envisage that as suggested, the shift in our timelines will drive more interested stakeholders towards the PSL and make this one of the most sought after leagues in the cricketing world," Ashraf was quoted as saying in the PCB statement.
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@Truth Detector: IPL is on to 6th season. Pakistan cricket league or any other T20 league is not threat to IPL. We indians are not bothered about your cricket league.
@Anonymous: whatever it was I would love to have it myself :)
@TightPatloon: no it's the fact that we allow the mullah to run wild in our country that is to blame.....until you tackle the root cause nothing will change
Well, well, well, this "news" that came up is not surprising at all, but, what surprised me more was that, it came a bit too earlier than that of my "reasonable" prediction. Pakistan has an incredible capacity to surprise everybody really! The reason for cancelling the maiden event, named as a "Super League", is even more amusing i.e., 'the PCB can't tackle an "unbearably overwhelming response and needs more time! Jeeezz!! PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said the extra breathing space would give his board a better opportunity to prepare. Well, Mr. Zaka Ashraf, keep breathing, but, do you really know that, the "extra breathing space" that you seek, is shrinking fast and increasingly getting suffocating for more n' more in your own country, that too, not just for the foreigners, but, even for your own countrymen??
PSL is actually telling the truth. Be shocked at the latest investors that will be announced. The plan is to make psl similar to American football, more professional and less gimmicky like Indian IPL. Trust me ;)
wts wrong wid the organizers of PSL,,security in Pakistan is much better than India,,If they can hold women world cup event with all that extremism & prejudice drama episode(Women's World Cup: Pakistani team confined to Barabati Stadium) then why PSL can not be organized??
awwwwwwwww pakistan is heart -broke....no worries guy after 10-15 years u might hold cricket matches....till then enjoy papad :)
Its a good decision by PCB. The election season is in full swing and it wouln't be appropriate to hold league at this time. The time after Pak's tour of WI in August will be great and hopefully things have been sttle down by then.
Indians are very happy... They will sleep tight tonight..
What were they smoking when they thought they could organize such an event in Pakistan?
ET can you remove the top comments of Indian trolls who are there to spoil every forum here??. Many people have stopped reading ET as they are of the view that ET is more or less a platform for neighbors Indians and Ignorant Afghans to play around and nothing else and they spoil any Productive discussion and transform every forum into a Mockery like Situation.!!!!!!!!
@Gratgy: IF September 6 is a Defense Day then why not this story too?
Hahahaha nice joke
PSL got an overwhelming response from sponsors, broadcasters and players.
First time that a show is put off due to "overwhelming response"
BCCI is behind this. They have been after ICC to get the PSL suspended.