The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to ditch the draft system calling out for the ‘PSL auction’ from the upcoming editions. The board opted for player drafts since the league inception but being keen to make its league IPL-competitive, earning extra pennies, Ramiz Raja, the chairman of the board, has come up with the initiative.
Raja believes all-world talent will be beneath them once PSL gains the money-rich title just like IPL. There is no denying the Indian Premier League is the world’s cash-richest league earning hefty revenues through an auction system. On the other hand, PSL has made its place in competitive cricket and has become a top-notch brand within seven years. However, the Pakistan tournament could make PKR 540 Crores, slightly less than the IPL, but, age plays a big role in gathering more money every next year.
Raja revealed PCB picked a draft system to provide opportunities to the franchise in picking the best of their squads with limitations. However, in the auction system, a franchise can only win a player’s services if it wills to spend more than the rest of the bidders. Each franchise will be allotted a specific purse to spend on players. The chairman stated he will only put PSL in the IPL bracket once the league starts making more money.
Auction system to improve PSL financial conditions
“We need to create new properties to be financially independent. We have nothing for now but the PSL and ICC funds. There’s an argument over the model from next year; I want to switch it to an auction model from next year. The market forces are conducive, but we’ll sit down with the franchise owners to discuss it.
Raja stated respect for Pakistan will only rise through the rising economy in cricket. He finds PSL the main driver in giving that boast. Raja has almost challenged IPL and is ready to see who will opt for IPL, and who will opt for PSL, once the financial conditions of Pakistan’s league improve.
“This is a game of money. When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is the PSL. If we take the PSL to auction model, increase the purse, then I’ll put it in the IPL bracket. And then we’ll see who goes to play the IPL over the PSL.”
