PCB allows PSL teams to increase salary cap

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed PSL teams to increase their total salary cap by $25,000, which will enable them to pick one more player for the squad ahead of the third edition.

This was decided during a meeting in Lahore between PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and the six franchise owners. The meeting also discussed concerns by PSL franchises over the TTen league.

A request was made by Lahore Qalandsrs during the meeting to increase the salary cap so that the talent hunt players could be included in the PSL squad, which the team was unable to do so earlier due to the salary limit.

“All franchises unanimously decided to increase the players salary cap by USD 25,000, allowing teams to pick a squad of 21 players for this season,” said a PCB spokesman.

“The newly inducted players will be from Pakistan and may include players unearthed through talent hunt programs or top performers from the National T20 Cup taking place in Rawalpindi currently,” the spokesman added.

The meeting was also briefed on ways to streamline the talent hunt programs. A detailed plan will be chalked out in consultation with all franchise representatives to further improve the process of scouting new talent.

Sethi reiterated PSL’s stance against anti-corruption and vowed to further strengthen the league's anti-corruption efforts.

The problem of counterfeit merchandising was also discussed. It was decided that the League will take legal measures to clamp down on counterfeit merchandising.

Meanwhile, according to sources, franchises also voiced their concerns regarding next month’s T10 league in Sharjah, which most of the franchises described as a threat to the product of PSL.

“Franchises informed chairman PCB that this league can jeopardise financial plans not only for the teams but also of the PSL as a product,” said a source.

The sources added that PCB chairman informed the franchises that the board has only allowed the players to participate in the league and it has no formal backing to it.