All franchises allow teams to pick a squad of 21 players for this season

Franchises voice concerns regarding next month’s T10 League in Sharjah

LAHORE: 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 between PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and the six franchise owners. The meeting also discussed concerns by the 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.

A PCB spokesman said that all franchises unanimously decided to increase the players’ salary cap by $25,000, allowing teams to pick a squad of 21 players for this season. The newly-inducted players will be from Pakistan and may include players through talent hunt programmes or top performers from the National T20 Cup taking place in Rawalpindi.

The meeting was also briefed on ways to streamline the talent hunt programmes. A detailed plan will be chalked out in consultation with the representatives of the franchises 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.

The 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. The franchises informed the PCB chairman that this league can jeopardise financial plans not only for the teams but also of the PSL as a product.