The PSL turns 10, but fighting for eyeballs with the glitzy IPL is a tall order

Just as the is warming up, three weeks into the event, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is faced with the onerous task of dragging away some of those eyeballs as it completes a chequered — but certainly eventful — decade this year.

Islamabad United, the reigning champions, will kickstart their campaign against past winners Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, 11 April, with the final scheduled for 18 May.

“If we can produce good cricket, then fans may stop watching the IPL and start watching us,” claimed Hasan Ali, the Pakistan fast bowler and the Karachi Kings attacking lynchpin and vice-captain, but that might be termed wishful thinking at its best.

The clash of dates with the IPL this time — the PSL is generally held in February–March — and a string of poor performances by the Pakistan national team across formats have contributed in equal measure to cannibalising the pre-tournament hype... though things may change once the action begins.

It’s true that franchise cricket is a different ball game; but unlike the IPL — which draws its USP from the galaxy of overseas and Indian stars and some surprise packages such as or Digvesh Rathi — the PSL brand has more an austere domestic presence, with a smattering of not-so-hot international stars.

The success of a , or on the international stage is hence an imperative for the PSL to serve up an appetiser that keeps the local fans interested — yet this is where they have been found wanting for quite some time.

The countdown hits ONE

Tomorrow, we roar. 🦁

Purchase tickets now: https://t.co/khPS0MOZVN #HBLPSLX | #ApnaXHai pic.twitter.com/6QnvZc4U3z

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 10, 2025

Add to that is the negativity that has gained ground due to the arbitrary functioning of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has chased out high-profile coaching staff after spending a fortune to get them on board and sacked and appointed captains almost on a monthly basis — which culminated in an embarrassing early exit in the ICC Champions Trophy that they hosted, followed by three weeks of humbling defeats in New Zealand.

“The fizz is definitely missing as of now. In the earlier years of the PSL, the fans were starved of any form of exposure to international stars and hence they crowded the terraces. Now, one has to give them more quality,” remarked a Pakistani cricket insider.

Looking at the bigger picture, the PSL seems to be standing at a crossroads, as licensing rights for the six teams in fray — Islamabad United, the Karachi Kings, the Lahore Qalandars, the Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and the Quetta Gladiators — are to end after 10 years this season.

Those rights are going to come up for renewal in 2026, and there is a buzz that two more franchises may be inducted — but the PCB has reportedly not been proactive on how to take their flagship product forward.

Speaking at a recent podcast, Ali Tareen, the young Multan owner, whipped up a storm about the manner in which the league has been run all these years.

“From what I have gathered, there will be eight teams from next year, which means there will be two more stakeholders to share a piece of the central revenue pool. However, we haven’t even started a discussion on it and we can’t say much as we don’t own the teams but rent it every year,” a frustrated Tareen said.

“Unlike an IPL or other franchise league, the PCB is yet to appoint an external agency for the valuation of the league, and it’s only three people taking all the decisions,” Tareen went on record saying.

His words did not go down well with Salman Iqbal, a media mohgul and owner of the Karachi Kings, who accused Tareen of “ridiculing and disrespecting” the league.

Captains of PSL teams, along with Karachi Kings vice-captain Hasan Ali

All said and done, the PSL 10 still has enough ammunition, with a mix of some senior international stars and the entire Pakistan cricket base to dish out entertainment for the next month.

David Warner, the much decorated Australian opener and IPL-winning captain, and classy Kiwi Kane Williamson will be undoubtedly the two biggest overseas names — both of them will be turning out for former champions the Karachi Kings.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Warner to the Karachi Kings family as our new captain. His track record as a leader and match-winner aligns perfectly with our vision for the HBL PSL 10,” team owner Iqbal said.

Neither Warner or Williamson found takers in the IPL mega auction this time and for a change — IPL’s loss could be the PSL’s gain.

 Top 10 overseas players in PSL

  David Warner (Karachi Kings)

  Kane Williamson (Karachi)

  Mohammed Nabi (Karachi)

  Rassie van der Dussen (Islamabad United)

  Daryll Mitchell (Lahore Qalandars)

  Sikandar Raza (Lahore)

  Kusal Perera (Lahore)

  Kyle Jamieson (Quetta Gladiators)

  Shai Hope (Multan Sultans)

  Chris Jordan (Multan)