Pakistan centrally contracted players' participation in SPL leaves PSL franchises fuming

In a recent development, several franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have expressed their dissatisfaction with the nationally contracted players choosing to participate in the ongoing edition of the Sindh Premier League, as per Cricket Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board had prohibited its players from featuring in the 6-team tournament back in 2021 but a few senior players have turned out to play the competition.

It has apparently agitated some PSL teams who are now making up their mind to complain about those players to the PCB for not complying with the measures set by the board. The likes of Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Tayyab Tahir among others are playing in the Sindh-based tournament for lower salaries than what PSL franchises provide.

What happened was that in 2021, then PCB CEO Wasim Khan sent an email to each and every Pakistan Super League franchise, confirming that no centrally contracted player would be allowed to play SPL. The prohibition was also extended to those players who played first-class and List-A cricket in the domestic circuit.

Moreover, the PCB also restricted the SPL teams from copying team names to that of PSL. It was done in order to keep the country’s richest cricketing league uniformed as well as exclusive to the viewers. The ongoing edition of SPL kicked off on January 25 and is slated for a conclusion on 5th February.

The league has teams like – Mirpurkhaas Tigers, Hyderabad Bahadurs, Karachi Ghazis, Larkana Challengers, Benazirbad Lals and Sukkur Patriots. Every single team has its own brand ambassador and icon player and it involves names like Azam Khan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, and Shadab Khan.

Outcast wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed is also taking part in the SPL for Larkana Challengers team. One of the reasons why the centrally contracted players are featuring in SPL is because PCB refused to hand over NOCs to some of its players from taking part in the ongoing International League T20 and the Bangladesh Premier League where players like Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam among others are already playing.

What’s Next For PSL Franchises In Their Protest Against SPL? Will There Any Sanctions?

PSL franchises have not yet released any official statement regarding centrally contracted players playing in the Sindh Premier League. They are mainly unhappy with the fact that the players who demand high wages, don’t actually have any problems in settling for a lesser salary in SPL.

It should be noted that the PCB had only prohibited the players from SPL but they never mentioned any strict action or sanctions to be taken against those who violate the rules. With less than just 2 weeks to go for the 9th edition of the Pakistan Super League, this issue has caused tension within several camps.

PSL 9 is slated to start from 13 February onwards and the opening match will see last year’s finalists Multan Sultan go head to head against reigning champions Lahore Qalandar at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Senior Pakistan players – Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan among others are expected to return to the country by next week.