PSL's future uncertain as team owners clash with PCB right before the season
Published - 20 Mar 2025, 04:51 PM | Updated - 20 Mar 2025, 11:40 PM
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Tensions are rising between the Pakistan Super League (PSL) team owners and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which cast uncertainty over the tournament’s future. The latest controversy revolves around the appointment of a former Multan Sultans official as a senior manager in the Pakistan Super League without any formal advertisement by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Some franchises have objected to Hijab Zahid’s appointment, calling it a clear conflict of interest, but the PCB has defended the move, stating that the role is only a temporary consultancy position for three months; hence, it does not require an open hiring process.
2 PCB Directors to join Multan Sultans ahead of the PSL 2025
Adding to the drama, it is also being said that the two PCB directors are expected to join Multan Sultans soon, which has further fueled speculation about potential favoritism in the Pakistan Super League. Meanwhile, Salman Naseer, who was recently removed from his position as PCB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), has taken over as the CEO of the Pakistan Super League.
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As reported by Cricket Pakistan, Salman Naseer’s primary focus is ensuring the smooth execution of the upcoming PSL 10. The newly appointed Senior Manager of the Pakistan Super League, Hijab Zahid, had previously made history as the first female General Manager of Multan Sultans in August 2023.
However, due to unrevealed reasons, Zahid, who started her career as a journalist, parted ways with the Multan Sultans and later worked for a state-run television channel before her contract ended. Now, her sudden hiring for the upcoming Pakistan Super League season without any public announcement has sparked backlash from some team owners.
Pakistan Super League owners question PCB’s hiring of former Multan Sultans official
Meanwhile, some Pakistan Super League franchises have raised concerns over a possible conflict of interest regarding Zahid’s recent appointment. They believe that if a former franchise employee works in a PSL position and later returns to a team, then maintaining confidentiality and fairness could become a challenge.
However, a PCB spokesperson reportedly made it clear that she was appointed for just three months, so there was no need for a public advertisement, and she was not a permanent employee of Multan Sultans and is not taking a senior role in the Pakistan Super League, so the "cooling-off period" is unnecessary.
Corbin Bosch explains his PSL withdrawal for the IPL 2025
Meanwhile, Corbin Bosch has provided the clarification to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over his sudden withdrawal from the Pakistan Super League 2025 (PSL 2025) in favor of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025).
The South African all-rounder was initially signed to play for Peshawar Zalmi but made a last-minute decision to pull out of the PSL 10 as he decided to participate in the upcoming IPL 2025, where he will represent Mumbai Indians (MI), which have teams across the world in the franchise leagues.
A Pakistani journalist was quoted as saying to Corbin Bosch, “His decision was not meant to disrespect PSL. He had to prioritize his future, as MI are not only a strong IPL team but also have franchises in multiple other leagues, which could benefit his career significantly."
