Lahore (Pakistan News Online) Multan Sultans’ owner Ali Tareen has claimed that the decision to hold the PSL 10 players’ draft in Gwadar was made without consulting the franchise owners.
In a recent interview, Ali Tareen revealed that the process for organizing the players’ draft for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was rushed. He shared that the franchise owners were informed via a message in the PSL’s official WhatsApp group, stating, “This year’s draft will be held in Gwadar.”
“As a franchise owner, it was quite concerning to receive a message like that without any prior consultation. No one asked or explained. When we inquired about it, we were told, ‘Final, bhai (it’s final, brother),’” Ali Tareen said.
According to Tareen, the franchise owners were left confused, wondering what “final” actually meant. “We were still discussing options like London or Dubai, and suddenly, we got a message saying, ‘Gwadar is final, bhai,’” he explained.
Tareen further questioned the rationale behind choosing Gwadar, asking, “Please clarify, on what basis was the decision to go to Gwadar made? Did anyone check if our international players and coaches would be able to travel there?”
He pointed out that Balochistan’s travel policies conflict with international travel regulations, making it difficult to secure travel insurance for foreign players and coaches.
The concerns raised by the franchise owners about possible travel complications for foreign players and coaching staff were met with a casual response from a senior official: “Okay, okay, we’ll handle it.” However, the plan was later revised, and the draft will now be held in Lahore.
This incident highlights ongoing communication gaps between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PSL franchise owners regarding key decisions.