Ali Tareen warns HBL PSL will struggle to retain foreign talent due to IPL clash
Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has expressed serious concerns over the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) continuing to clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL) calendar.
Tareen warned that such scheduling could jeopardize the league's ability to attract and retain top-tier international talent in the coming years.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tareen acknowledged that the HBL PSL has enjoyed remarkable growth since its launch in 2016, thanks in large part to the participation of global T20 stars like Darren Sammy, Shane Watson, Colin Munro, and Rilee Rossouw.
But with the IPL drawing away more and more high-profile players each season, Tareen questioned whether the PSL could continue to compete on that level.
'Can we keep attracting players of this calibre for the next decade if we keep clashing with the IPL window?' he asked. 'Or will we keep losing our top performers to the IPL after a season or two?'
While Tareen admitted there was initial support for scheduling HBL PSL games during the IPL season—particularly as a way to carve out its own identity—he now suggests that approach may be doing more harm than good.
His remarks have reignited an ongoing debate within Pakistan cricket circles about player availability, global visibility, and the broader commercial impact of competing directly with the IPL—the most lucrative and widely watched T20 league in the world.
The concerns come as several foreign players have prioritized IPL contracts over PSL appearances this year, prompting league officials and franchises to reassess recruitment strategies and the overall competitiveness of the PSL on the international stage.
New Zealand great Kane Williamson reportedly joined Karachi Kings late due to his commentary commitments with IPL earlier this year, having gone undrafted in the IPL draft.
Tareen's post also clarified his own commitment to the Multan Sultans, denying recent rumours of his exit from the franchise.
But his candid take on the PSL's scheduling dilemma suggests major strategic discussions could be on the horizon.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
9 players from Peshawar Zalmi trials to represent Kuwait in international cricket
In a significant achievement for Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, nine young cricketers selected through this year's talent hunt trials in Peshawar have been chosen to represent Kuwait in international cricket. The selected players, Abdul Rauf, Muhammad Haroon, Haroon Rasheed, Haseeb Khan, Jehanzeb Khan, Abdullah, Muhammad Salman, Saqib Khan, and Shuraim Ali Khan, will also feature in Kuwait's domestic cricket and be provided employment opportunities under a cricketing exchange program, the franchise said in a statement. The development follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between Peshawar Zalmi and Kuwait Cricket, aimed at fostering player development and international exposure. The trials, held at Arbab Niaz Stadium and Hayatabad Sports Complex, drew thousands of young cricketers from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 'This is part of our mission to provide global platforms to young talent,' said Peshawar Zalmi Chairman Javed Afridi. 'We are not only offering playing opportunities but also building cricket infrastructure across the province.' The exchange program is the latest in a series of grassroots initiatives launched by Zalmi and the Zalmi Foundation, including the Zalmi Madrasa League, School League, Azadi Cup, and Media League. The trials were overseen by several former national players and coaches, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Yousuf, and Umar Gul.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Indian broadcaster Zee's quarterly revenue falls on advertising woes
India's Zee Entertainment Enterprises reported a 14% drop in first-quarter revenue on Tuesday, as the broadcaster was hurt by weak spending by companies on advertisements. Zee, which runs channels like ZeeTV and ZeeCinema, reported consolidated total income of 18.5 billion rupees ($214.24 million) for the three months ended June 30, compared with 21.5 billion rupees a year ago. Shares of the company closed 5.7% lower after the announcement of the results. Zee's revenue from advertising — which accounts for nearly 40% of the total — was 16.8% below last year, marking its eleventh decline in the past twelve quarters. Advertisements are generally the biggest source of revenue for media companies including broadcasters. A shift in advertisement budgets to sports media platforms on account of cricket's lucrative Indian Premier League, coupled with subdued ad volume demand and the absence of last year's election-related spending, likely weighed on non-sports broadcasters during the quarter, analysts said. India's Zee fundraising fails as shareholders block founding family from raising stake Earlier this month, these factors led Reliance Group-backed Network18 Media - which owns news and entertainment channels - post a fall in quarterly revenue. Zee's revenue from other sales reduced by a 63%, while its subscription revenue remained flat. Meanwhile, the broadcaster's cost-cutting and frugality measures helped reduce its expenses by 15%. Zee's net profit rose 21.7%, led by lower costs and a one-off loss in the year-ago period. Core losses in Zee's streaming service, Zee5, narrowed 63%, while revenue rose 29.6%, boosted by new content releases on the platform.
Business Recorder
17-07-2025
- Business Recorder
AKD Group Holdings acquires key stake in Pearl Continental Hotels chain
AKD Group Holdings (Private) Limited, formerly known as Aqeel Karim Dhedhi Securities (Private) Limited, has acquired a significant 27.95% stake in Pakistan Services Limited (PSL), the operator of Pearl Continental Hotels, for Rs6.36 billion. PSL disclosed the development in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday. 'The company has received a letter dated July 15, 2025 from AKD Group Holding (Private) Limited, formerly Aqeel Karim Dhedhi Securities (Private) Limited, wherein they have made disclosure in term of Section 110 of the Securities Act, 2015 read with regulation 4 (2) of the Listed Companies (Substantial Acquisition of Voting Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2017 with respect to the acquisition of 27.95% voting shares of the company,' read the notice. As per the notice, AKD Group Holdings (Private) Limited, along with its subsidiary AKD Securities Limited, acquired on July 14, 2025, 9,089,651 voting shares of Pakistan Services Company at a rate of Rs700/- per share, which amounts to over Rs6.36 billion. On account of this acquisition, AKD Group Holdings' total shareholding in Pakistan Services Limited is 9,089,651 shares, which represents 27.95% of the total issued voting shares of the company, it said. Pakistan Services Limited is principally engaged in the hotel business and owns and manages the chain of Pearl Continental Hotels. As per the company's information available on PSX, PSL also owns a small-sized property in Lahore, operating under the budget hotel concept. PSL also grants a franchise to use its trade mark and name 'Pearl Continental'.
