No plans about adding another team in HBL PSL 2021: Naveed

The Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s Project Executive Shoaib Naveed has stated that there are no plans, currently, about adding another team to the country’s premier T20 league. 

While talking in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Naveed said that decision will be taken after assessing the appetite for PSL.

“We will take this decision after discussing it with franchises and assessing the appetite for additional teams in terms of fan experience and commercial perspective,” said Naveed. “Currently, we have no plans about adding another team in next edition of PSL.” 

Naveed, who has also previously served as Head Project Manager HBL PSL and Manager Marketing and Sales between 2014 and 2016, was also confident about the preparations ahead of PSL5.

“For the first time, since the 1996 World Cup, PCB is hosting an event where we have activated multiple venues. This is important from the logistics perspective because we will using two venues for matches on the same day which makes it a challenging situation but let me assure you that our preparations are going according to schedule,” he said.

“I will be the first to acknowledge that we are currently not at the same level if we compare it to the organisation of such events globally but this is a learning curve for us as well and we will try to ensure that in upcoming years the event is conducted in a better manner,” he added.

He also assured top-notch security for visiting players during the upcoming event. 

“We will provide top-notch security to players, similar to how it has been done during Pakistan’s recent home series, and we are in touch with foreign and local security agencies to ensure that there are no deficiencies in this regard,” he said. 

The former Islamabad United Chief Operation Officer (COO) also brushed aside the notion that there were major differences between PCB and the PSL franchises but stressed on improving communication between the two parties.

“I don’t think there is any major cause of concern as far as differences between the franchises and the PCB is concerned,” he said. “I think that the issues that have come up in the past were more due to communication gap and I’m keen on ensuring that this is no longer the case in the future.”

“Although right now we are more focused operational phase of PSL as the event is only a month away but as soon as we have successfully culmination the next edition we will sit down with franchises and address their grievances in a full-fledged manner,” he concluded.

All 34 matches of PSL5 are set to be played across four international venues of the country, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, from February 20 to March 22.

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