PSL: PCB in talks with franchisees to withdraw petition

The Pakistan Cricket Board is engaged in talks with the Pakistan Super League franchisees to persuade them to withdraw the petition against the sport’s governing body.

The PCB is trying to pacify the six PSL franchise owners, who have moved the Lahore High Court over the financial model of the professional T20 cricket league Pakistan.

The franchisees have pleaded that the PSL financial model was tilted in favour of the PCB and alleged that the cricket board is earning billions from the league whereas the team owners have lost billions of Pakistani rupees in the past five years.

PSL franchisees – Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, and Islamabad United – have filed a joint petition in the Lahore High Court, seeking a direction to the PCB to implement a viable financial model.

At a preliminary hearing held last week, the PCB’s legal team took a strong stance on the petition filed by the owners, but sources, aware of the developments, said behind the scenes efforts are being made to settle the matter out of court, states a report by PTI.

“The PCB realizes the gravity of the situation as the PSL is one of its most successful brands and due to the existing economic conditions in Pakistan and globally, it would not be easy for sale of the franchises if the situation got out of control,” the source said.

The main objection of the franchisees is that the PCB, despite repeated assurances, had failed to modify the financial model of the league.

The judge, who will hear the matter again on Wednesday, had asked the PCB to submit a detailed reply to the petition filed by the franchise owners.

“Outside channels are being used to convince the franchise owners to withdraw their petition and assurances have also been given to them that the board is willing to sit down with them and address their grievances,” the source added.

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