Pakistan Super League seems to be running into deep trouble ahead of the Pakistan Cricket Board plans to complete the remaining four games of the season in November. All the six PSL franchisees have moved the Lahore High Court against the PCB over financial issues.
“We have serious reservations with the existing financial arrangement and model of PSL,” franchisees have stated in a joint Press release. “The PCB has demonstrated an unwillingness to discuss, deliberate or revise the arrangement in a serious manner, forcing the hand of the franchisees time and again. Since the inception of the league, the franchisees have collectively losses in billions of rupees while the PCB has made billions.”
The High Court has listed the matter for Wednesday, September 30. Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi has reportedly ordered to serve notices to all the parties for Wednesday hearing.
All the franchises were asked by the PCB to deposit the bank guarantee money by September 25, Friday last, but the owners have objected that first, the PCB should introduce a new model that it has devised for the PSL. The franchises are more interested in meeting with the PCB to finalise the financial model which is pending for the last three years.
The franchisees in the Press note have, however, reiterated strong commitment to the sport and the PSL.
The franchisees in the petition have contended that the “present model of the PSL both in an administrative and contractual sense is contradicting the objects and purpose of promoting cricket in Pakistan, which is the statutory mandate of the PCB under the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance 1962 (of Pakistan)…
“We are committed to finding a workable solution and making PSL a success for everyone involved.”
The PCB has announced to stage the remaining four matches of the PSL 2020 from November 14 to 17.