Pakistan’s players have not been a part of the IPL since its inaugural season, but the PCB has plans to launch their own equivalent of the Twenty20 tournament, though they have admitted it will not be possible to host it in Pakistan. Instead, they want to host the tournament in Dubai, where Pakistan have played one-day internationals against Australia and South Africa, and the latter in a Test match.
Sultan Rana, the chief of PCB’s domestic cricket department, told Pakpassion.net the plans had been in the pipeline for the last two years but the board had to delay it because of the attack on Sri Lanka’s cricketers during their tour of Pakistan in March 2009.
“We first considered the idea a couple of years ago,” he said. "The documents were complete and we were all set to go, but the attack on the Sri Lankan team meant that we had to shelve all of our plans at that time.
“I recently went to Sri Lanka during the World Cup and spoke to many other countries’ board representatives, but apart from Sri Lanka they are reluctant to send their players to Pakistan. So, that presents a problem for us. We simply cannot host the tournament in Pakistan if we want to attract the top players.”
The IPL was also hosted abroad in its second season, when the tournament was shifted to South Africa after security concerns arising from the Mumbai attacks in December 2008 meant it could not be staged in India. Rana was confident Pakistan’s board could do something similar.
“What we are trying to do is to organise a competition in Dubai. This idea was discussed in the past and has very much been in our plans and is still on the table. I’m sure we (PCB) can organise this tournament, which will run along the lines of the Indian Premier League.”
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury : My Faith in Pakistan’s Honour & Dignity has been vindicated!!!
I can assure you of one thing: Noone in Pakistan was really bothered whether you vindicatd them or not.
Whether "No One in Pakistan is bothered or not" is not in question.
It is the "Worthies" who thought that PPL (Pakistani Version of IPL) was not the answer but that Pakistani Cricketers "MUST be Invited" to participate in the IPL.
It is only a matter of time that the PPL ( Pakistani Version of the IPL) will be up and running in Dubai.
I would love the PPL to unequivocally declare "NO INDIAN PLAYERS WILL EVER BE INVITED INTO THE PPL".
Meantime I thank you for advising me that my Thread with the Article "Where’s the beef?" by
Nadeem F. Paracha has been "Moved" and would request you to please advise me the Title of the Section where it has been moved to.
I hope this happens. Would give our domestic cricketers some international exposure. Unfortunately I think the chances of this happening are pretty slim. First off the logistics of organising a tournament like this seem beyond the PCB's capabilities and secondly there is no free window in the international calendar that would allow this to happen.
While PPL sounds like a good idea for our (under-paid) domestic cricketers as it w'd give them access to more money and the experience of playing with international stars in a competitive environment, I am not very keen on national players partcipating in such meaningless competitions annually. Every year seems like too much of a muchness to me and it might lead to player burnout. Maybe it should be held every 2 years if at all. Better to increase the salaries of the centrally contracted Pak players and let emerging domestic talent play in PPL (if it ever takes off). There is enough cricket for an international player in a calendar year with all the tests, ODIs and T20s (and World T20, World Cup and Champions' Trophy) and more 'unnecessary' cricket is bound to shorten the careers of the very best players
IPL is a hotbed for corruption but the corruption allegations in IPL are against Modi who took kick backs to favour a particular group/company for a franchise. For all we know this kind of corruption and nepotism happens in most of the cricket boards.
Recently Dale Steyn referred to IPL as 'paid holiday.' And Asif Iqbal described IPL as 'more money than cricket'. PPL won't be any different but one could argue that 'more money than cricket' is still better than 'fixing cricket for money!'
I am not a fan of IPL and I do not watch it also.As I have maintained earlier,it is for money laundering and legalised prostitution.Now the problem comes when it refers to mony.Already players are alluded by the vast amount of money and instant glory being showered with.Already a huge chunk of well performing plaryers are with IPL .Ofcourse other cricket boards can not shell out money as it is happening in Indian League.Moreover no cricket league in the world can match the kind of money pouring as it s happening in I.P.L .Obviously players will not be interested to take part in such contests. So others endeavours will be an utter fiasco. Do not waste time for such shows.
i agree with arli.ppl may be good for local pakistani players.but when it comes to attracting foreign players it won't be easy.especially matching IPL wages is almost impossible for any cricket board
but its still better then domestic tournament.lot of young guys will get exposed on national television making hard for selectors.when people watch ur performance live.it would be hard on selectors,especially when un deserving players get the chance
Give them a chance. Pakistani Population is approaching 200 Million. IOW it is not some 10-20 Million peopled Nation which has to look upon the Indian IPL in shock and awe.
Let Pakistan Cricketing Authorities at least have a try rather than nipping the very idea in the bud.
Worst case scenario : The PPL – supported by Pakistan’s Mighty Friend i.e. China which was visited by the Pakistani Cricket Ambassador to China “Javed Miandad” – has great support in the UAE and other Arab Countries and if you are worried that the PPL might possibly overwhelm the IPL then so be it.
It would be wrong to curtail the Pakistan Players League or for that matter the Sri Lanka Players League or even the Bangladesh Players League.
If your main worry is that the PPL, SLPL & BDPL will adversely effect the IPL, then all I can say is “Hard Cheese”.
