PSL owners upset, feel players saving themselves for IPL

Karachi, March 1 

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A few team owners in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) are not happy with the attitude of some of their overseas signings, who, they suspect, are not going all out to avoid fitness/fatigue issues ahead of the more lucrative Indian Premier League. Sources in some of the franchises competing in PSL said that some players had even pulled out of matches citing niggles. “Joffra Archer is one example. He is playing for Quetta Gladiators and he pulled out of a crucial match and this didn’t exactly make the owners, management or fellow players happy,” said the source.  

He said the Quetta Gladiators owner, Nadeem Omar, didn’t say anything to Archer but suspected the all-rounder was only keen on staying fit and fresh for IPL, which begins shortly after PSL ends on March 25. Archer will make his IPL debut this year; he was bought for an astounding $800,000 by Rajasthan Royals.

Defending champions Peshawar Zalmi are also not happy with the unavailability of West Indian veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who is yet to show up. Zalmi depend heavily on the all-rounder, who is reportedly yet to recover from an injury. “It is not about the money but when you lose a player of high calibre, it upsets the team’s plans,” said a team source. Bravo has been retained by Chennai Super Kings for $1 million.

Pakistan’s former Test captain Salman Butt says he is not surprised since IPL remains the most lucrative for players among all the T20 leagues being played in the world. “Top players would prefer to be fit and fresh for IPL. Because if you perform there, you get richer and noticed quickly.”  PSL is also facing the problem of overseas players not keen on travelling to Pakistan for the two playoff games in Lahore, and the final in Karachi. — PTI