Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has talked about bringing an auction model in Pakistan’s domestic T20 league PSL as well. He has indicated that in the next edition, the draft system will be abolished and the auction model will be introduced. With this, he has challenged the BCCI and said that after bringing the auction model, we will see who plays IPL.
Rameez Raja, while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, said that, now is the time that the PCB will have to build its independent financial assets. We have nothing but PSL and ICC funds. Discussions on next year’s model are ongoing. I want to bring PSL on auction model from next year. But for this we will first sit with the franchisees and discuss it.
The former Pakistan cricketer said that it is all a game of money. The respect of Pakistan cricket will increase even more if more money is used in it. He is confident that with the entry of PSL into the auction model, the earnings of the franchisees will also increase. After that we can compete with and surpass T20 tournaments around the world including IPL.
He also said that it is just a money game. The growth in cricket’s finances in Pakistan will also increase our prestige. Only PSL can become the main source of our economy. If the auction model comes in the PSL, then we can directly challenge the IPL. Then we will see who goes to play IPL beyond PSL.
The 59-year-old Raja further said that, we want to conduct PSL on Home and Away basis. We saw that in the last season only Lahore and Karachi were played. But now we will consider getting the match done on other venues as well. We want to take the concept of PSL to a higher level. If the franchisees want to grow and earn more, then the money will also have to be invested more.
Rameez Raja said in the last that, when you move from draft system to auction, then other talent of the world will also be present for you. I spoke to two of the franchisees about this and they were very happy and curious to hear about it. I’ll talk to others too. This is still a preliminary phase but it is top of my wish list.