PSL not to serve its actual purpose: Shaharyar

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan reckons that the proposed Pakistan Super League (PSL) will not serve its purpose of bringing international cricket back to the country.
And he has his reasons for holding those reservations. “The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated further in the last couple of years and in my personal opinion, no country will send its team here at this moment in time,” Shaharyar reported to have said.
“I wish I’m wrong in claiming that the PSL will not be able to attract top-ranked cricketers but as the PCB is investing heavily, second or third-grade players might be attracted to it.
“However, that will not fulfil its purpose of convincing teams to come and play in Pakistan.” Regarding that, he counts out the possibility of India, England or Australia touring Pakistan in the coming years. “The BCCI follows its government’s instructions in any ties with Pakistan while the UK and Australia are part of the Nato forces so they won’t be sending their teams either,” he said.
Shaharyar, who has also held the post of Pakistan’s secretary of foreign affairs in his illustrious career, is of the view that even though Pakistan toured India recently, the current situation at the Line of Control (LoC) reduces the possibility of a bilateral series to a bare minimal.
“In the past, cross-firing at the LoC was a routine matter but this time around the Indian reaction has been so strong that our hockey players had to return home [from participating in the Indian Hockey League],” he said.
However, he suggests the PCB to involve the Pakistan and UAE governments in order to get a special concession in organising ‘home series’ there and also mentions South Africa as an option.
Shaharyar, however, doesn’t completely agree with the PCB adopting a tit-for-tat policy with Bangladesh after they did not send their team for a tour despite committing to do so twice.
“I admit the BCB did not fulfil their commitment but it would’ve been better if the PCB had lodged their protest to the BCB directly instead of stopping players from featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League,” he asserted.
“Their public loves our cricketers and these actions will ultimately damage the unity of the Asian bloc and we can hope that they realise the steps we’ve taken to help them.”
But the former PCB chief lauds the work done by Zaka in improving ties with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh which had been at an all-time low during Ijaz Butt’s regime at the PCB helm.
“They [relationships] had fallen to their lowest ebb but Zaka has done well to revive them,” he said. “Personal level contacts between the heads of the cricket boards are very important as it helps in solving issues in a better way.”

Australia to stay away from PSL

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s effort to bring international stars for Pakistan Super League (PSL) suffered a setback on Wednesday when Cricket Australia made it clear that they would not support any contracted players participating in PSL. “Due to the ongoing security concerns in Pakistan, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association would not be supportive of any international or state contracted player participating in the Pakistan Super League,” said a spokesman of Cricket Australia. This is first time that any board has publicly said that they can’t support Pakistan Super League since PCB launched the league earlier this month.