KARACHI: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer has said major changes are under consideration, including a historic bid for the upcoming 11th league, a direct player contract and a possible increase in players’ purses.
Speaking during a recent interview with Jio NewsNasir explained that the initial discussions involved the existing five franchises as the two newly added teams have officially joined the PSL.
“Consultations were going on with the five existing franchisees and we were waiting for two new franchisees to join us. After that, we wanted to take a consultative decision on whether to go towards a draft, an auction or a combination of the two,” Naseer said.
“All these discussions have now taken place. Now we have to sit with the two new owners and take a final decision. After consultations, we will announce the direction we will take,” he added.
He assured fans that the process would be transparent and supporters would be informed of the results once they were finalised.
Addressing the ongoing debate between auction and draft bodies, Nasir said that while auctions create excitement, many owners believe that the draft has helped maintain competitive balance in the PSL over the years.
“The auction showed how interesting it can be. Some of the existing owners believe that the player draft is too competitive. In the draft, categories are created and a certain number of players can be selected from each category. It has been balanced for the last 10 years and we have seen the results on the field,” he explained.
“When the teams are balanced, the competition is strong, which often leads to a last-over or last-ball finish. It’s a well-established model, so some owners question why they should move away from it.”
He added that even the proposed date for the players’ draft is under discussion.
“So far, it has not been decided whether there will be a draft or not. If it is to be held on January 30, we are still going to decide and we will discuss with the chairman whether this date will be finalised.”
The CEO revealed that PSL franchises are divided on key issues such as player retention, purse size and the possibility of direct signings.
“As the league prepares for a possible structural reset, conflicting opinions have emerged. Some believe the current system provides enough quality players within a reasonable price bracket,” he said. “Some owners argue that good players come and fall within the same price range anyway, so why change the model?”
However, other franchises advocate a complete overhaul, especially by adding new teams.
“Some believe retention should be reduced, especially for new owners. They think the league should be reset, putting all the players back into the pool and letting the market decide who picks whom at what price. That has an added benefit,” Naseer added.
Not all franchises support eliminating long-standing player-team associations, citing concerns about development and fan engagement.
“On the other hand, some owners argue that certain players have been associated with them for a long time and have been nurtured and developed by these teams. Fans also connect with these players, so continuity is important,” he explained.
Part of the ongoing discussions are financial considerations, particularly in relation to player purses.
“To move towards an auction model, we have to consider how much we can increase the purse. Currently, the purse is $1.3 million. If we increase the PCB by $100,000 for each owner, our preference is to increase it, but that has to be done by consensus,” he said.
The PSL management is actively considering ways to improve players’ opportunities and ensure fair compensation, especially for local talent who form the backbone of the league.
One of the key proposals under review is to allow owners to sign certain players directly, giving them more control over team structure, while recognizing the contributions of homegrown talent.
“Another thing we are looking into is the option of direct signings – owners can sign some players directly. Foreign players are already getting extra money through auctions or direct signings around the world, so local players should get the same,” he said.
“The PCB chairman also has a strong view on this: local players are the real value generators for the PSL, so they should be paid accordingly,” Naseer added.
Naseer also assured that the management of the league is actively consulting with all owners to reach a consensus on the way forward.
All these issues will be discussed and a decision will be taken after consultation in the next few days, he said.
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