PSL now expected in January 2016

The Express Tribune has learnt that the board is now eyeing January 2016 as the possible time for holding the first edition of the potentially cash-rich tournament.

An official close to the matter revealed that the notion that the board is going to lose out on potential bidders after twice postponing the event in two years is incorrect, as the stake-holders have been taken into confidence.

“We are now aiming to hold the event in January 2016,” he said. “We are constantly in touch with the two investors who had filed bids for the overall rights for the tournament, and we hope to have one of them on board.”

Meanwhile, there was a clear rift among the PCB officials who eventually decided to put off the tournament last week.


A senior board official was convinced that the event can be staged as per the original itinerary (January 2015), but found scant support from the rest of the committee members.

Board of Governors (BoG) member Shakeel Shaikh also added to the speculation by claiming in a TV interview that certain e-mails sent by former cricketers and officials alarmed the PCB.

He added that the e-mails hinted that some miscreants had emerged who wanted to sabotage the league.

Pakistan is the only leading Test playing nation other than New Zealand to have not staged a Twenty20 league. The project was launched by former chairman Zaka Ashraf in 2012, who also roped in former ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat as a consultant.

However, the plan was put off after a few uncertain months before being reignited by Najam Sethi during his stint as chairman this year. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2014.