PCB lures foreign cricketers with money to host final in Lahore 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is on a mission to bring the foreign players to their nation to revive the popularity of the game in an international cricket dry nation. PCB is luring overseas  players with extra money and better accommodations to play Pakistan Super League (PSL) during the second edition of the franchise-based league.

PSL head Najam Sethi told the reporters in Lahore that some foreign players have already agreed to play the PSL final. However, Sethi didn’t disclose the names of the players but said they had been assured of foolproof security.

“I can assure you the PSL final in Lahore will be bigger than the one held in UAE last February,” Sethi said.

Since 2009 terrorist attack on the team bus of the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, all countries have boycotted a visit to Pakistan. In 2015 only lower ranked teams like Zimbabwe, Kenya and Afghanistan agreed to visit Pakistan.

The PCB has launched their own franchise based T20 after their players were denied to play in the world’s richest T20 league Indian Premier League as  both countries share do not share good diplomatic relations since the 26 November 2008 deadly terrorist attack in the financial capital of India, Mumbai.

Besides this, PCB officials also understood that the T20 league will help them to earn money from the league that will help them to get rid of the financial problem.

The first edition of the PSL played in the UAE . But in the second edition PCB wants the PSL final take place at Gaddafi stadium, Lahore.

The PCB already started signing new overseas stars for PSL’s second edition and announced recently the signing of Brendon McCullum, Eion Morgan, Lasith Malinga and Albie Morkel.  Sethi confirmed that overseas players were being offered extra money to play the final in Lahore.

“We are offering them at least USD 20,000 each extra if they play the final in Lahore,” he said.

Sethi also confirmed that at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore  14 new rooms  and world class facilities were being also added to the NCA adjacent to the Gaddafi stadium  for the high-security accommodation for these players.

Sethi also said the success of PSL also helped the domestic cricket as an infusion of money in the PCB’s coffer will be dedicated to the development of cricket in the country.

“There is huge interest in the PSL and as a result, money is also being offered for the domestic events,” he added.

PSL chief also hopes taking a cue from the first edition more sponsors will woo the league in the second edition.