New Delhi: Tensions between two of the world’s biggest T20 leagues have resurfaced after several overseas cricketers withdrew from the Pakistan Super League to join franchises in the Indian Premier League, prompting a strong response from Mohsin Naqvi.
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board said strict action would be taken against players who pull out of PSL commitments at the last moment in order to participate in the IPL. His remarks came after Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka withdrew from the Lahore Qalandars squad to join the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran.
Shanaka had earlier appeared in the 2023 edition of the IPL for the Gujarat Titans, where he featured in three matches and scored 26 runs across his innings.
His withdrawal follows another recent switch involving Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who stepped away from his deal with Islamabad United after receiving an offer from the Kolkata Knight Riders to replace Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
Naqvi made it clear that such late withdrawals would be dealt with under the league’s regulations. A similar situation occurred last year when South African all rounder Corbin Bosch was handed a one year ban from the PSL after leaving the Peshawar Zalmi squad to join the Mumbai Indians.
Despite the ongoing scheduling clash between the two tournaments, the PCB leadership maintained that the PSL schedule could not be shifted due to limited availability of windows in the international calendar. Officials also pointed out that while some players leave for the IPL, several other international cricketers continue to join PSL teams.
The upcoming PSL season is scheduled to begin on March 26, just two days before the IPL begins, setting up another period of overlap between the two high profile T20 competitions.
