Monday, December 11, 2017
By
GEO NEWS

PCB drags in T20 Global League to defend T-Ten League

By
GEO NEWS
|

KARACHI: In another desperate attempt to defend the controversial T-Ten League and cover-up own blunders, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dragged Cricket South Africa’s product Global T-20 League into the issue. 

While comparing the privately owned league with an official league of an ICC board member, PCB says that the two franchises were allowed to invest in T20GL and the same way one was allowed to be part of T-ten league.

PCB, on its official media announcement twitter handle (@TheRealPCBMedia), responded to The News story published on December 12th.

“PCB gave clearance to Lahore Qalandars & Peshawar Zalmi to participate/field teams in SA Global League on the same lines Karachi Kings/ARY were given clearance for T10, all franchises hold equal importance for PCB,” states PCB in the tweet.

It is worth mentioning that the Global T20 league was owned by Cricket South Africa, unlike the T-Ten league, which is owned by a private businessman.

One wonders how a competent cricket authority like PCB can compare the two leagues.

The PCB’s statement of naming three different franchises may also create bitterness among PSL franchise owners ahead of PSL’s third edition and can harm the atmosphere of the league.

One must not forget the fact that the franchise Karachi Kings was also among the PSL franchises to raise its voice against the T-Ten league, but later became a partner of the same league.

PCB continues to add that it can’t block the opportunity for players or coaches to earn extra, especially in a free window.

“We can't block the opportunity for our players/coaches to make an extra earning especially in a free window (Where there is no conflict of interest) T10 is only a four-day commitment and has given good financial gains to both the players and PCB,” it states.

The PCB, it seems, find the prestigious first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Trophy not worthy enough to ensure top players’ participation in it.

By allowing players to participate in a non-serious league, the PCB has also risked their fitness ahead of an important tour of New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Jang Group in a statement said, “The leadership of the PCB through a press release tried to hide behind Aman Ki Asha and media conflicts narrative instead of replying to the question regarding lack of transparency and due process that Usman Manzoor’s reports bring up. The group fully supports PSL by sponsoring multiple teams and promotion and also provides space for it in its sports channel as done by PTV and Ten Sports, but charges lower fees than both". 

"If anything, the reporting of Usman Manzoor is in the protection of PSL. We do not have anything against any competitor starting a league or even an Indian, but Aman Ki Asha does not mean that we should sell state-affiliated assets for free and do it without due diligence and due process. It is for the information of PCB that Aman Ki Asha, showing of Indian films and promotion of IPL are legal under the Pakistani laws but sending PCB’s assets i.e. rights of players to play a league, without bidding is not," added the spokesperson for Jang Group.