The Pakistan Cricket Board is concerned over the growing Indian investment in overseas T20 leagues, for it could affect its players’ participation in these tournaments.
The newly launched SA20 League features each of its six teams bought by IPL franchise owners, while UAE’s new ILT20 has five India-owned teams out of six. The former conducted its inaugural mega-auctions earlier this month and did not feature a single Pakistani player. Meanwhile, 24-year-old wicketkeeper Azam Khan was the only Pakistan player signed in the league – by the American-owned Desert Vipers.
Pakistan players are not officially banned from these leagues, as they have been from the IPL after the inaugural edition in 2008, but their participation is expected to be limited with the Indian ownership around.
There is a history, though – Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Hasnain have represented Trinbago Knight Riders, owned by Red Chillies Entertainment consortium, who also own Kolkata Knight Riders – in the CPL previously.
Azam is playing for Barbados Royals (owned by Rajasthan Royals’ Manoj Badale) at the ongoing CPL 2022, while Fatima Sana played for the women’s team earlier this season.
The SA20 and ILT20 could affect the international players’ participation at the PSL, too, given the salary differences.
Moeen Ali, who is leading England in the ongoing seven-match T20I series in Pakistan, expressed his concerns over the current situation.
“I feel for them. They’re probably missing out financially on a lot of money because they’re such good players. It’s obviously political and all that sort of stuff – it’s not black and white, a lot of the time. It’s sad because they’re such good players and they’d only add to the standard of cricket,”
he said.
