PCB Warns of Action as Players Choose IPL Over PSL Amid Schedule Clash

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a strong warning to players withdrawing from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in favor of the Indian Premier League, as both tournaments are set to overlap for the second consecutive year.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that strict legal action would be taken against players who opt out of the PSL at the last moment to join IPL franchises. “We will take action against those players according to the rules,” Naqvi said on Sunday, referencing last year’s case involving Corbin Bosch, who was handed a one-year PSL ban after switching to the IPL.

The latest instance involves Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who withdrew from the Lahore Qalandars squad to join the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for injured England player Sam Curran. Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams has been named as Shanaka’s replacement in the PSL side.

Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani also pulled out of the PSL earlier after securing a deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite the departures, Naqvi downplayed concerns over the scheduling conflict. “Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we’re getting excellent players coming here as well,” he said, adding that rescheduling the PSL was not feasible due to a lack of available windows in the cricket calendar.

Several other players, including Gudakesh Motie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ottneil Baartman, and Spencer Johnson, have also withdrawn from the PSL, though most cited personal reasons for their decisions.

The PSL is scheduled to begin on March 26, just two days before the IPL kicks off. However, the PCB has announced that matches will be played behind closed doors due to an oil crisis linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Additionally, the number of venues has been reduced from six to two, with matches taking place only in Lahore and Karachi.