Senior players Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez believe that the planned Pakistan T20 Super League in March will inject new life into the sport in the country and instill confidence in the international community over safety in the troubled nation. “There is no doubt the PSL is necessary for not only the survival but also the promotion of cricket in Pakistan,” Misbah said here on Friday.
Misbah, Pakistan’s Test and ODI skipper, said the PCB had done well to keep alive the sport in Pakistan despite no international cricket being played in the country since 2009. “The way I look at it the super league hopefully with foreign players also participating in it will serve as a oxygen for cricket in the country. And it will also lead to the revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” Misbah said.
Pakistan’s T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez also backed the tournament. “Something big like the PSL will boost the sport in Pakistan and increase people’s interest. PSL will also bring financial boost to our domestic players and offer incentives to them,” he said. The PCB has announced a super league with five franchises from March 26 this year.
Former Pakistan captain Hanif Muhammad also lauded the PCB’s efforts to launch the league this year. “What I believe is that the PCB should involve our former and current greats to work towards convincing top players from different countries to come and play in the league. “Such leagues are now necessary to ensure that the financial status of players at the domestic level also improve dramatically,” Hanif said.
PCB clears the air on BPL
The Pakistan Cricket Board has on Friday made things clear with the Bangladesh cricket Board that it did not ask the PCB to sent its players for auction for the BPL. Commenting on a media release issued by BCB, a spokesman of the PCB said: “In order to put the record straight, it is sated that PCB received no request from Bangladesh Cricket Board regarding release of its players for the auction of BPL. “It should also be noted that the tour of Bangladesh to Pakistan in April 2008 was an FTP commitment and in no way a favor to PCB. It is pertinent to mention here that just before that tour, Zimbabwe and South Africa also visited Pakistan in the same period. “As far as the first edition of BPL (2012) is concerned, the PCB cooperated with the BCB after then President BCB Mostafa Kamal made long-term commitments and understandings and requested the PCB to support their league. The release of the players on part of PCB was intended to make the inaugural tournament of the BCB a success. “The PCB values its friendship with the BCB and has always supported the Bangladesh cricket in many ways. However it expects the BCB to reciprocate this support. The PCB respects the people of Bangladesh and wishes well for the development of cricket in their country.
