Pakistan Set To Decide Whether Its Star Cricketers Can Play In New Cashed-Up T20 Leagues

A decision on whether to allow Pakistani players to participate in new cashed-up T20 leagues in the UAE and South Africa is expected imminently, according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) boss Ramiz Raja who believes a tipping point is nearing for the sport’s power brokers to decide if “it’s country over club or club over country”.

The newly-minted leagues, both set to launch in January and run concurrently alongside other established T20 competitions, are offering huge pay packets after backing from wealthy Indian businessmen in what is becoming an expanded Indian Premier League footprint.

They have caused headaches for cricket boards around the world, including the PCB who have had to contend, according to ESPNcricinfo, with frustrated players naturally allured by what’s on offer elsewhere.

With a busy schedule ahead after the T20 World Cup in Australia, including home Test series against England and New Zealand, before the Pakistan Super League starts in February, there is little wriggle room in the calendar but the PCB might be stuck in a corner.

“We are having thoughts on sending our players there,” Raja told me about the upcoming T20 leagues in UAE and South Africa. “We want to have them fresh for our FTP – that’s why we have a reserve pool to pay our superstars to make sure that they aren’t overused and overworked.

“We haven’t made a call whether we want to release the players or not. We need to work out what is our criteria on releasing players and whether we want to release them at all.

“Or whether we should look after our A-Category players and then let the other lot play in these leagues. We are still deliberating.”

It has been reported in the Indian press that the Glazer family, who own football giant Manchester United, were the only owners of the six franchises in the UAE looking to offer contracts to Pakistani cricketers. It has stoked some concern that Pakistani players might be essentially barred from these growing ‘IPL satellite’ leagues just like they are from the money spinner of the IPL.

But Raja hosed down any fears, saying there was widespread “interest” in his cricketers.

Raja, who has been on the International Cricket Council’s board for the last 12 months, was front and centre on fierce discussions at the ICC’s annual conference in July over the sprouting of T20 franchise leagues as they mushroom the international calendar.

An ICC working group could be formed, according to sources, in a bid to provide some type of clarity on what lies ahead for a sport that appears in the midst of being upended.

Raja, a former Pakistan captain, was outspoken during the meetings in Birmingham over the UAE’s International League T20, where teams might potentially field nine overseas players compared to the commonly accepted four foreigners per side rule in established T20 franchise leagues.

The ILT20, which is privately owned but sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board, was given the all clear by the ICC but Raja was left frustrated not being part of the consultation.

“I had no clue of the decision made by the ICC,” Raja said. “There was fierce debate on the ICC board whether to allow a league to have nine overseas players per XI. The floor is still open for debate.

“I’m not sure if that formula will work. If the local talent is struggling no one wants to watch these leagues.”

Emirates Cricket boss Mubashshir Usmani dismissed concern over teams potentially boasting just two locals, believing the number of overseas players in a side is “arbitrary” in an interview with me last month.

The issue is again set to be at the forefront of discussions at the next board meeting in Melbourne in November amid the spectre of the chair election in what could be the dawn of a new era for a sport uncertain about itself.

“”I think it is great for the players that there are these new leagues because they earn more,” Raja said. “But it shrinks the FTP program. We have to decide whether it’s country over club, or club over country. That’s a concept we as a board have to be absolutely clear on.

“Clearly we (PCB) have to pump money into our system. Boards will have to put more money into their players.

“It’s been a good lesson for all boards who might have hit the snooze button.”