Shoaib Akhtar plans on owning PSL team

Former Pakistan bowler says he wants to serve Pakistan cricket by promoting cricketers

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar announced on Monday that he was interested in buying a team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

"Everyone is excited about PSL and so am I," Akhtar said, while speaking to the media, according to ESPN Cricinfo.

"It's like a gift to the nation; it's not [just] the brand of PCB, it's the brand of Pakistan. I am interested in buying a team in the league and want to serve Pakistan cricket this way by promoting cricketers and making more Shoaib Akhtars who can bowl at 100 (mph). My business partner and I are testing the waters; assessing whatever is put on table and how it suits us."

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Akhtar's statement came after a meeting with PSL head Najam Sethi on Monday afternoon. Rumours were rife that Akhtar had been in talks with Sethi to take a PCB job. However, Akhtar denied it outright.

"There are more ways to serve Pakistan cricket than taking a job at the PCB. You all know what kind of a person I am. I might be critical at some point but my intentions are always positive and I want things to be right. By buying a team, I can offer the talented boys in my team a platform. [I can] make an academy and recruit the best possible talent in my team,” he clarified.

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"I might be very critical of the board on many things but I only want Pakistan to win. There is a lot of talent in our country but they need guidance. The PSL is a good initiative and we should support it. This is the product that can help us revive cricket in Pakistan," he added.

The PSL, which is a franchise-based T20 tournament to be held in February 2016, will feature teams from the provincial capitals, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad - with prize money of $1 million. The full schedule of the 24-match event is yet to be announced but dates from February 4 to 24 have been reserved.

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In a ceremony on Sunday, PCB formally announced its plans for the PSL, as well as the inclusion of Kevin Pietersen, Shakib Al Hasan and Dwayne Bravo in the event. The PCB is expected to hold an open auction for the five franchises and the broadcast rights for the tournament in November. The players, however, will be sold via a draft.

This article originally appeared on ESPN Cricinfo