The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise owners and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are facing a significant challenge in signing overseas players who went unsold in the IPL auction, according to PTI reports.
The 2025 PSL edition is set to overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with both tournaments scheduled during the same window. The PSL is slated to run from April 8 to May 19 due to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 occupying its usual timeframe.
Franchise owners are eager to recruit prominent players like David Warner, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Jonny Bairstow. However, the PCB’s USD 200,000 salary cap for foreign players has complicated negotiations, as many high-profile cricketers are unlikely to accept deals below this threshold.
The USD 200,000 salary limit has made it difficult for owners to attract top-tier players, especially those unsold in the IPL, who expect higher pay. Some franchise owners are also reluctant to offer salaries above the cap, fearing it could create dissatisfaction among other players, particularly local ones.
PSL franchises have reportedly contacted agents of unsold IPL players to explore potential deals, but no clear agreements have been reached. With the players’ draft scheduled for January 11, franchises are pressed for time to secure high-profile players while maintaining balance within teams.
A source told PTI, “The problem is that with the players’ draft scheduled on January 11, time is running out to find a formula to sign high-profile players and also ensure a sense of disparity doesn’t develop among players in the PSL.”
PCB CEO Salman Naseer has advised franchise owners to negotiate directly with players’ agents to avoid involving the PCB in the process. The source, as reported by Cricket Addictor, stated: “The PSL’s new CEO, Salman Naseer, has even suggested that franchise owners directly talk to the players’ agents so that the PCB is not involved in negotiations.”
Some franchises, however, oppose bypassing the draft and insist that all major signings should be part of the draft process, aiming to maintain transparency and parity across teams.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
