PSL will surpass IPL to become world’s No.1 league, says Mohsin Naqvi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has confidently predicted that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will soon surpass the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the world’s leading cricket league. Both tournaments are among the most popular franchise competitions in Asia, alongside several other emerging leagues globally.

Speaking at a Board of Governors meeting in Lahore, Naqvi highlighted growing investor interest as evidence of PSL’s rapid progress. He emphasised that the league has become an attractive investment platform and expressed strong belief that PSL will soon rank among the top cricket leagues worldwide.

“The PSL has now become the best market for investment. The time is not far when the PSL will become the world’s number one league,” Naqvi said after a board meeting in Lahore as quoted by Gulf News.

Alongside the league’s expansion, the PCB approved its audited 2024-25 financial statements, signaling stability off the field. The franchise auction drew major attention, with record bids as the PSL expanded from six to eight teams, adding new sides from Sialkot and Hyderabad.

OZ Developers bought the Sialkot franchise for PKR 1.85 billion, naming it Sialkot Stallionz, while FKS Group secured the Hyderabad team for PKR 1.75 billion, calling it Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Despite the strong auction response, challenges remain. PSL 2026 is being played under constraints, with matches behind closed doors at only Lahore and Karachi due to the country’s fuel crisis. In contrast, the IPL operates across multiple cities with packed stadiums and massive global reach, having started in 2008 compared to PSL’s 2016 debut.

The PSL also faces difficulties attracting top international players. Many cricketers overlooked in the IPL join PSL, but IPL franchises often sign them as replacements, even mid-season. Financially, IPL contracts far exceed PSL offerings, with a single IPL deal sometimes matching an entire PSL team’s budget. Notably, this season has seen players like Blessing Muzarabani, Dasun Shanaka, and Spencer Johnson prioritising the IPL over the PSL, despite initially being part of PSL considerations.