PCB issues warning to PSL franchises

The lingering issues have created an air of distrust between the parties involved

PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

The differences between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises continue to foster, which is leading to concerns ahead the next edition of the of the league.

According to details, the PCB officials have yet to address the reservations of the HBL PSL owners despite repeated promises.

The issues have created an air of distrust between the parties involved. The matter which should have been resolved through diplomacy has now worsened due to a hard-line stance from the PCB. The PCB is sending constant letters to the HBL PSL franchises to deposit bank guarantees; however, no franchise has completed the task so far.

The PSL franchises are demanding their due share, from the previous edition of the league. More than six months have passed, yet the financial report of the HBL PSL 4 has not been finalised. Lawfully the franchises should have received their shares by now.

The seriousness of the matter can be gauged through the emails sent by the PCB to the franchise owners. The officials have clearly stated that the franchises inability in depositing the bank guarantees would have serious implications on the draft process.

“The failure of sending bank guarantees to the PCB by the franchises will have serious implications on the draft process which will not be hosted as per schedule. All franchises are instructed to send bank guarantees within a 10 day period. Failure to do so would result in action being taken,” the email stated.

The franchise owners are also distressed about the conflicts of interests rule and then its subsequent removal with the appointment of Misbahul Haq as head coach and chief selector of the national side. He will also be taking part in the league in a coaching capacity.

The new PSL management has failed to resolve the outstanding issues that plague the league. PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani had handed over the role of managing the league to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PCB Wasim Khan. The CEO in turn handed over the responsibility of managing the league to Director Commercial Babar Hamid, who has not been able to find an amicable solution so far.