Former PCB chief discusses declining interest in Pakistan cricket

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has expressed concerns over the declining interest in Pakistan cricket, attributing the waning fan support to the national team's poor performances and ongoing struggles within the cricketing community. 

Sethi also touched on the challenges faced by the Pakistan Super League (PSL), especially in terms of timing conflicts with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the impact of the team’s current form on fan engagement.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Sethi discussed the complications arising from the shifting PSL schedule, explaining that the tournament had to be rescheduled due to ICC Champions Trophy happening in February-March window, which prevented it from being held in its usual February window. As a result, the league will now take place in April, overlapping with the IPL. 

“The timing is tricky, and it creates complications for us,” Sethi shared. 

He further mentioned that while the league could face challenges in attracting top international players due to the overlap, there is still a large pool of talent to choose from. 

“Players will come. It’s a big world, and there’s always talent available,” he said, although he admitted that top players might be hard to get.

Sethi also pointed to the team’s poor performance as a significant factor contributing to the public’s growing disinterest in cricket. He acknowledged that fans were upset with some of the senior players, which had led to a lack of enthusiasm for both the national team and PSL matches. 

“Our team’s performance is very weak, and that’s reflected in the atmosphere surrounding cricket in the country. Sponsors are becoming hesitant, and some are even refraining from endorsing players because they know the public is upset,” Sethi said. 

Despite these concerns, he remains hopeful about the future of PSL, noting that it has been successful in many ways and still holds significant commercial potential. However, he cautioned that going forward, these issues need to be addressed to keep fans engaged and invested in the sport.