The Pakistan Super League (PSL) organizers are making some adjustments to the schedule to avoid stepping on the toes of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They’ve decided to kick off their matches an hour after the IPL starts. Salman Naseer, who is in charge of PSL, shared this detail in a podcast. He mentioned that PSL games will start at 8:00 PM, which is an hour after the IPL begins at 7:00 PM according to Pakistan Standard Time. The first match of the PSL will take place in Rawalpindi this Friday. This change is particularly notable because it marks the first time both leagues will run at the same time since they’ve been established.
Naseer acknowledged that they didn’t have much choice when it came to scheduling the PSL during April and May due to a crowded calendar earlier this year. He admitted it’s not the best scenario, but he’s optimistic that the PSL has built its own dedicated fanbase and will still draw attention. He said, “The PSL has always offered exciting and competitive cricket, and this year will be no different. Fans just want to watch good, entertaining games.”
Since this is a special tenth year for the PSL, Naseer mentioned they’ve added new features to improve the broadcast experience. He pointed out a silver lining in the overlap with the IPL – it has allowed franchises in the PSL to bring in some well-known international players who didn’t get picked during the IPL auction.
Naseer also talked about interest from various parties about adding two new teams to the PSL by next year. When asked about some tensions between certain franchise owners and PSL management, especially those who made their frustrations known about how things are run by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he said that airing grievances publicly wasn’t the best approach. Rather, he felt it would be more constructive for franchise owners to bring up any issues directly with the PSL.
He expressed his belief that all franchises have gained value from being part of the PSL over the years, and now there will be new fee structures for the next ten years. Franchise owners will have the choice to either agree to the terms set by the PCB or make their own decisions.