PCB sell PSL franchise rights for $93 million, 308 players included in auction

PSL is all set to begin in February next year

The inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) is all set to begin next year and the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) has sold five franchise rights for $93 million. The five franchies are Lahore, Karachi,Peshawar,Islamabad and Quetta.

The Karachi franchise’s rights were sold to Slaman Iqbal for an undisclosed amount. Omar Associates bought the rights of the Quetta franchise. Quatar Oil purchased the Lahore franchise, Javed Afridi, CEO of Haier Group bought the Peshawar team, while Leonine Global Sports won the rights of the Islamabad franchise.

Najam Sethi the chairman of PSL said “The best part is that all the team owners are ardent cricket fans and their dedication will make this league a success.” Habib Bank Limited(HBL) joined PSL as title sponsor for the first three years and now the league will officially be known as the HBL Pakistan Super League.

The broadcast arrangements of PSL have also been finalised with Sunset+Vine as the producers for the next three years.

All the matches will be aired on Ten Sports and PTV Sports in pakistan for the first three years. Tech Front, a UAE based media rights acquisition company bagged the global TV rights for the same duration.

PCB has finalised a list of 308 players who will take part in PSL. Out of the 308 players England get the biggest share with 59 players, followed by West Indies with 38, Sri Lanka with 22 and Australia with 10 players.

We need to forgive Amir and move on: Wasim Akram

Muhammad Amir, the Pakistani pace bowler who was convicted for his involvement in match fixing, has been included in the Pakistan Super League (PSL),

Former Pakistan Cricket team captain Wasim Akram who is also a PSL ambassador said “Our religion Islam teaches to forgive those who ask for forgiveness, Amir has served his time and has been rehabilitated, and is bowling brilliantly now,”. Akram feels that Amir should be given a second chance.

Another formar captain and ambassador, Ramiz Raja is critical about Amir’s involvment in PSL. In a recent interview he said, “Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot. I don’t have courage to face any more shocks or jolts again. I have experienced this practically and those who have witnessed such things practically can’t forgive the characters involved in the act,” Raja said if he had the power to take a call on the matter, he would have never let Amir play agian.

The matches will take place on Dubai and Sharjah and the tournamet will take place February 4-6,2016.