Rameez Raja’s suggestion on how to fill up the near-empty stadiums in Dubai and Sharjah by “hiring international tour operators to take fans from Pakistan to the UAE” is sheer and utter nonsense. Can foreign exchange-strapped Pakistan (US$ “spiking” from Rs 110 to 115 only yesterday) afford such luxury as their cricket-starved citizens spending hard earned foreign exchange on hotels, meals and taxis in cash-rich Dubai for nearly one month long tournaments UAE stadiums have been less than 10% full, even on Thursday nights and Fridays.
Would 10,000-15,000 Pakistanis flown in from Pakistan fill even half the capacity of the UAE stadiums? Problem of low spectator turnout in the UAE cricket stadiums.
Rameez Raja’s suggestion to attract good quality for the contention is that in PSL “each team has to stay under a pre-determined salary cap set and cannot go over the budget – a restriction that keeps the absolute cream of world cricket away from the league” is excellent. Attracting some of the best international cricketers, an auction will encourage each team to make an extra effort to get the best players. Big names in the teams will give cricket lovers that much more incentive to go to stadiums and see their favourite stars in action.
Despite all the heroics and ultimate sacrifice of our brave soldiers, what is the perception the world gets by not holding the PSL in Pakistan? This graphically suggests that our security establishment is not confident about preserving the peace in Pakistan. Staging PSL outside Pakistan is an adverse propaganda against Pakistan’s national security, the irony is that PCB is inadvertently funding anti-Pakistan campaign to the world that Pakistan is still not safe for sports.
A PSL on Pakistani soil will prove to be a huge boost in helping revive international cricket in Pakistan, a win-win situation for everyone involved. Earning substantial revenues from the PSL, PCB spends a huge amount on travel, boarding and lodging plus other administrative expenses in the UAE for players (local and international), team officials, contingent of PCB officials and staff members, etc, etc.
Add the expenses of the players, team officials, team owners, their families/friends, sponsor’s officials, staff members, TV engineers, crew, helpers, etc. Add also the Pakistanis travelling to Dubai for the PSL on their own. The amount that PCB spends hosting the event in the UAE is many times more than what the tournament would cost in Pakistan and would directly and indirectly economically boost the local economy. With capacity crowds cheering the players for every match, given the Pakistanis’ love and passion for cricket, one can safely guarantee that stadiums in Pakistan will be 100% full. Just look at enthusiasm of the crowds fully the Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium for the “Eliminators”.
Earning more revenues than what it does in the UAE will enable PCB double or even triple the amount of money and provide more incentives to foreign players to play in Pakistan. The huge rentals for UAE Stadiums should be diverted to improving stadiums in Pakistan.
To Najam Sethi’s credit, other than staging the PSL extravaganza, it would be fair to say that the PSL really has produced a good amount of talent in just 3 years. This can be force-multiplied many times over like the IPL has done for the Indian cricket team. There is wealth of untapped talent waiting to be discovered. With people coming to see their stars in action, if the tournament is held in Pakistan, the Sponsors’ message will also get increased exposure.
As a media expert, Najam has that sports capture the dormant patriotism and evokes it to cement the unity of the nation. For a country scarred by long years of terrorism, the collective activity of cheering for one’s teams and favourites will both heal and bind the nation.
A team of global security experts had reviewed the security preparations for the Final to be held in Karachi. With thousands of troops, military helicopters, armed police and guards earmarked to ensure the safety of foreign players, they had expressed complete satisfaction that the arrangements met with international standards required for foreign teams to visit Pakistan. Considering this green light once PCB makes the PSL lucrative for foreign players, they will come to Pakistan. Najam Sethi has done a tremendous job providing Pakistani cricket with a world class stage to showcase its talent. Being on record that he hoped the entire 2019 tournament would be played in Pakistan, Najam now says only 50 per cent if it will be in PSL 4.
Najam must oversee the transition for the tournament to be played in Pakistan. Once PCB makes the PSL lucrative for foreign players, they will come to Pakistan. There is no earthly reason to have even one match of PSL abroad, unless it makes commercial sense for those who are making money by keeping it abroad. We must do everything in or power to make sure the next PSL is in Pakistan
The writer is a defence and security analyst.
