PSL auction system to replace PSL draft

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will see an auction system from the upcoming seasons rather than the traditional PSL draft in order to maximize the revenues. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman, Ramiz Raja, in his interaction with media, revealed he wants to compete PSL with IPL, making Pakistan’s tournament even bigger than the current cash-rich league.

Notably, PSL picked a draft system to pick potential squads within the limited resources and finances available. While, in the draft system, each franchisee can only retain the player’s services once it is willing to spend maximum on him.

Raja, while talking to media, said the world talent will be under the PCB once the board improves its financial conditions through the main driver, PSL. He understands the tournament can earn hefty revenues following auction systems like IPL. Moreover, Raja will only compare PSL with IPL once Pakistan’s league starts making enough cash.

Notably, PSL 2022 has earned PKR 540 Crores which is no doubt, a huge success for the board. However, the amount is slightly less than IPL, since the league’s upcoming season is to generate the highest-ever revenue in India’s tournament’s history, approximately counting over INR 890 Crores.

Raja is optimistic to see who will pick IPL and who will pick PSL once the PCB will offer more cash in the upcoming years.

“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.

“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.”

Also, see:

IPL 2022 complete schedule and squads