NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Super League franchise owners are in a difficult position since they want to sign some of the well-known foreign players who were not sold at the most recent Indian Premier League auction.
This year’s PSL 10, which takes place from April 8 to May 19, conflicts with the IPL, and teams are eager to sign players like Steve Smith and David Warner who were unsold in the IPL auction.
A team source told PTI that although the six franchise owners were eager to sign some of the well-known players that were up for grabs following the IPL auction, the USD 200,000 salary cap for PSL players made things challenging.
Due to the IPL’s April-May window, Steve Smith, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, David Warner, Adil Rashid and others would not have any international obligations.
“But the problem is that the players draft scheduled on January 11 time is running out to find a formula to sign on high profile players and also ensure a sense of disparity doesn’t develop among players in the PSL,” said a source.
He clarified that the PCB and franchise owners knew it was improbable that the majority of the well-known players who were unsold in the IPL would sign for less than USD 200,000.
“The PSL’s new CEO, Salman Naseer has even suggested that the franchise owners directly talk to the players’ agents so that the PCB is not involved in negotiations.”
The source claimed that some franchise owners were hesitant to pay players more than the PSL salary cap and were also concerned that, even if a team were to directly sign a well-known player at a higher salary, it might cause other players, particularly the local ones, to be dissatisfied.
Agents of those players who were unsold in the IPL have already contacted various clubs to inquire about possible trades, according to another franchise source.
“Some franchises are also opposing bypassing the draft and insist that all major players should be part of it.”