There have been numerous reports about Pakistan starting their own version of a major Twenty20 tournament. Pakistan, at large, is a cricket-loving country and has been deprived of seeing not only International stars but National too. Players like Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are world-class performers. They would enlighten any tournament with their presence.
The name that is doing the rounds is the 'Pakistan Premier League' (I will call it PPL as it has no name as of yet). The PPL has many pluses to it. Such a league comes with an enormous reputation and is followed worldwide. Here are some of the positives and negatives that the PPL would/might bring to Pakistan and its cricket in large.
Positives:
Finance: The financial implications of such a tournament are absolutely monumental. Players in the recent Faysal Bank T20 were paid the equivalent of £20-£25 per match. A top player in the PPL might come close to the £1million mark. The financial security is not just for the players and officials but for the general public too. Merchandise selling, food and drink, and hotels are some of the business opportunities that will arise from the PPL.
Crowd: Pakistan has not had a International game at home since 2009. The Faysal Bank T20 was one of the limited chances for the people of Pakistan to see their heroes play cricket. The PPL will take this to another level; I can almost 100% guarantee every game would be sold out and it gives the players a chance to thank the people of Pakistan, whose support comes unrivalled.
Players’ development: Pakistan is a nation whose natural talent can only be questioned by someone who has as much knowledge of cricket as I have of golf: zilch. What the players lack are good coaching facilities and mostly this is due to to the financial constraints of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The large financial security will mean money can be pumped in further to help young players blossom their talent with the best coaches around.
Winners’ mentality: From my own personal experience, I have played cricket with a team that has struggled and a team that has been virtually unbeatable. The two feelings are completely like being on the other side of the planet. When sharing a dressing room with star names and proven winners it lifts your confidence; it makes you believe that you also can become a winner. Such mental toughness is a necessity when playing International cricket.
Tourism: Maybe not so much in the inaugural edition, but the PPL should generate tourism within Pakistan. There are die-hard Pakistan cricket supporters that follow the team worldwide and I'm sure the PPL will also be appealing to such passionate fans. More tourism should help local business and help generate revenue.
Culture promotion: Through a tournament like this, Pakistani culture can be promoted. The opening and closing ceremonies can include Pakistani artists performing. Also rather than cheerleaders, there could be a dhol player like we see in the Faysal Bank T20, which would be ideal.
Bringing International cricket to Pakistan: A good tournament would go a long way in helping International cricket back to Pakistan. This could show the World Pakistan is ready to welcome sides from abroad to play here.
Negatives:
Test cricket suffering: Test cricket could be a big loser when the focus goes to T20 cricket. A player’s ultimate dream at the moment is to play for the National side; but too much money can mean a youngster having a mentality of making it big if he plays solely in the PPL. The focus of producing Test class cricketers must always be the priority.
Foreign presence: It will be vital for the success of the PPL that players from around the world come to take part. This will not be an easy task but if the financial package and security are right, players will come. Players like Shahid Afridi must be used to ambassador this as their reputations and links would be of great benefit.
Poor administration: If there are poorly made decisions then this can be detrimental to Pakistan. The financial implications are a massive incentive but Pakistan cricket’s big need at this moment is exposure to games getting played within Pakistan.
Security: There may be a security issue. This is one issue that cannot be compromised with nor can it be left with any stone unturned. For the inauguration, even if Pakistan has to play at an single venue, that will be fine. Teams should be limited so security is adequate.
Sponsors and Franchise owners: There is a lot of apparent interest in owning a franchise of a side. All sponsors and potential owners must be financially checked. The PPL cant have a situation like the BPL where players are owed between 25-75% of their promised fees.
Five suggestions:
1. Have around 6-8 teams for the inaugural edition. Teams from, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi (joint), Quetta, Sialkot and Peshawar are a must. An Afghanistan side and one more can be added if needed.
2. The venue/s must be limited to a maximum of two. This will enable the authorities to control security to its fullest.
3. Unless a last resort, the PPL must be staged within Pakistan. Like a security lapse can have detrimental effects, a solid PPL will have beneficial effects, like International cricket coming back.
4. We must focus on Pakistani culture to make this a unique brand. Pakistani sponsors would queue up if their product was being shown in a 'Pakistani' way. Also we must not forget local businesses. This would in return boost the economy around the country.
5. The tournament TV rights must be sold to a Pakistani provider along with one international provider. This will coincide with keeping Pakistani tradition and making the event global.
As covered, the PPL holds many positives and they largely outweigh the negatives. To compete financially around the world, such a tournament is a must. The household names that play for Pakistan would get more exposure and the young talent would get an opportunity to showcase their talent, which could lead to contracts around the world. It may be declaring the obvious time and time again, but a good tour can mean wonders but one lapse and it could have grave effects on the future of Pakistan cricket.
PPL enticement: make or break for cricket in Pakistan
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