PCB to launch Pakistan Premier League T20 in UAE

Karachi, June 14: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it would launch its own T20 international league in February in the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB announced it through a statement issued by the board after the meeting of the Board of Governors said that the reason for launching the Pakistan Premier League in the UAE was to have maximum participation of foreign players for the franchise based teams.

"The board had hired an international consultation firm, Repucom which gave a report on the feasibility of having an international T20 franchise based league," a well-placed source in the PCB told PTI yesterday (June 13).

"The firm has made it clear that if the PCB wanted maximum international participation of renowned players in the league it would have to launch it in the UAE as presently security conditions in Pakistan would not encourage foreign participation," he said.

Repucom works with sports federations and clubs and its clients include the English Premier League, UEFA and FIFA and it has reportedly suggested that the inaugural PSL be a five-team only event.

Twice before the PCB under different Chairmen has tried to launch the Pakistan Premier League and ended up spending millions of rupees on hiring a foreign consultant, setting up a complete secretariat etc.

But on both occasions the league could not take off. Last year the postponement came after two companies had already submitted interest bids of 35 crore each to the board to purchase rights of the PSL on long term basis.

The PCB statement also said that the board of governors approved the appointment of a leading professional of international repute to work as the league's lead manager.

PTI