"More People Will Watch PSL Than IPL"- Hasan Ali Goes Crazy

With the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2025) set to clash with the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025), the tournament's viewership is expected to take a big hit.

While PSL is one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world, it is still far behind the IPL in terms of popularity and several other factors.

IPL and PSL windows to collide

The Indian Premier League is widely regarded as the best T20 league in the world, and the PSL could be negatively impacted due to the clash of schedules.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The PSL has traditionally been held in the February-March window. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to opt for a different window this year because of the Champions Trophy. The marquee event was hosted by the PCB in February-March this year.

Another reason behind the PCB's decision not to hold the PSL in February-March is that the tournament had to compete with the SA20, ILT20, and BPL for players during that window.

Also Read: Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal makes RJ Mahvash go crazy with second attempt catch to dismiss MS Dhoni

Hasan Ali responds to viewership drop

While only time will tell how things unfold for PSL this year, Pakistan fast-bowler Hasan Ali is confident that the tournament's viewership won't be impacted negatively.

"The PSL is clashing with the IPL, but this was the only window where we could organise it. Viewership goes where there is performance and entertainment. So if we perform well, the viewership will shift from the IPL to the PSL," Hasan Ali told reporters.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by King Babar 👑💖 (@king_of_cricket._babarazam)

PSL CEO on clashing with IPL:

PSL CEO Salman Naseer recently explained the reason behind choosing the April-May window for the tournament. Speaking to Star Sports, he stated that the Champions Trophy was not the only reason behind the call.

He stated that since no other major tournaments take place during the Indian Premier League, the PSL's core players would be very much present during this period.

"It was a tough decision and one which was not taken lightly either. The challenge that we faced this year was that the Champions Trophy was scheduled in February and March, which has been the traditional window for the PSL," said Nasser.

"So, we had to look for another window. Now it is a challenge, generally speaking, looking for a window that is sizable during the FTP (Future Tours Program) that exists nowadays. The volume of cricket that is happening across the globe is tremendous.

"Any clear window is difficult to find. And now the leagues are also sort of competing with each other during this period. So, we really had to come up with a strategy and solution to this problem that we had faced.

"One solution was, of course, to try and do it in the window during which the Indian Premier League takes place. The IPL itself is a fairly lengthy tournament. But no other cricket was taking place during that time, and Pakistani players were not participating in the IPL either, which meant that this was a period where the core of the PSL would very much be present," he added.

Meanwhile, PSL 2025 is scheduled to begin on April 11, while the final is scheduled to take place on May 18. Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will be facing each other in the first game of the tournament.

Also Read: PSL 2025: Alastair Cook, Wasim Akram to make debut as PCB announces star-studded commentary panel