With the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) barely a few days old, the much awaited tournament has already been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Just a day into the tournament, Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan and batsman Khalid Latif were banned for alleged corrupt activities and sent back home. Post that, three more players were questioned in relation to the same matter.
Former legends of Pakistan cricket such as Javed Miandad and Mohsin Khan have come down scathing towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not managing the tournament properly. Miandad, a vocal critic of franchise based T20 tournaments, mentioned such lucrative tournaments are an easy opportunity for bookies to mint a lot of money.
Miandad apparently stated the controversy right at the start would surely tarnish the image of the tournament.
“I don’t think most cricket boards and players will now be as receptive and supportive for the PSL. I fear the top players who care for their reputations will stay away from it. Only those players will come who want to make money,” Miandad said.
The batting great went on to add that with a stain associated with it, PSL wont remain the same anymore.
“Our league was free of such controversies but now the PSL is also damaged and I don’t think it will be the same again,” Miandad said.
Former opener and skipper Aamir Sohail too was critical about the PCB.
“T20 leagues and tournaments are soft targets to corrupt players and we have seen it happen in domestic T20 matches as well in recent times. The PCB should have been very careful while launching the PSL in Dubai which is home to syndicates,” Sohail said.
Mohsin Khan too made a similar point, as he said the PCB itself is to be blamed for all the mess.
“I am saddened by what has happened but we shouldn’t be surprised because the PCB itself is to blame for not taking stringent steps and banning corrupt players for life.”