PSL playoffs go global: England in the spotlight

• PCB considers hosting PSL season 10 playoffs outside Pakistan.
• This act is considered to reach wider audience.
• Franchises will be given the opportunity to sign marquee players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating the idea of staging the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at a location outside of Pakistan, as reported by a local news channel on Saturday.

The proposal identifies three potential locations in England for the four key playoff matches. The suggested venues include renowned stadiums such as Manchester, Birmingham, and The Oval in London.

This decision is expected to yield several benefits for the PSL, particularly considering England’s stature as a cricketing superpower and the location of the tournament’s main broadcaster.

England, home to a large number of cricket enthusiasts, including those from Pakistan and India, was chosen as a neutral venue with the intention of drawing a wider audience and increasing the tournament’s international appeal.

While Australia was also discussed as a potential venue during the general council meeting of the PSL, the current focus seems to be on England. However, further discussions are anticipated regarding the selection of neutral venues for the playoffs.

The timeline for these discussions indicates that the PSL Governing Council meeting, scheduled for the third week of May, will be a critical juncture for finalising the tournament’s schedule and deciding on the neutral venues.

It’s important to note that the 10th edition of the PSL is likely to occur in April-May of the following year.

This decision was made due to the event’s overlap with the ICC Champions Trophy in the February-March window.

Sources indicate that the PCB has proposed a window between April 8 and May 20 to the PSL franchises. However, this window coincides with the Indian Premier League, which typically occurs during the same period.

The window was determined considering the availability of players and workload management.

The PCB will also provide all franchises with the opportunity to sign a marquee player for the upcoming edition of the event. The signing of marquee players will take place in the next few months. The PCB will also provide financial assistance to franchises for signing marquee players.

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