“We had written to the ICC seeking clarification on some points and they have in reply left it to the PCB to complete the rehabilitation process of these players”.
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Najam Sethi underlined the importance of PSL saying that it is an important milestone for Pakistani cricket and PCB.
According to the PCB, the PSL Governing Council decided to lock Doha as its preferred location for the tournament after lengthy deliberations.
In the first edition of the PSL, there will be five teams while a total of 24 Twenty20 matches will be played.
Sethi said that in the first edition of the PSL will have five teams from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar and will be sold as franchises.
“Qatar is staging major worldwide events now but cricket has remained out of their calendar but now they want cricket as well and their officials assured us they would offer all cooperation and help to make the PSL a big success in Qatar”, added the official.
In a statement issued later in the day, the PCB said the players will not be able to use the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and will be barred from practising with players from the national team. In addition, top foreign coaches are also being roped in for the first edition of the league.
Sethi said several commercial entities had expressed interest in buying a franchise.
“I can confirm that a number of parties are now talking to us and are interested in picking up the franchises”.
With the event venue locked, the formal PSL launch will take place in Lahore in the third week of next month, PCB’s media release concluded.
The PCB had initially planned to host the league in the UAE, Pakistan’s virtual home since 2009. The trio was involved in spot-fixing and a British newspaper, News of the World broke the story in 2010, with further investigations revealing that the three players took bribe from bookmaker Mazhar Majeed to bowl no-balls.
All three players will work with the PCB’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department by delivering lectures in all of the country’s 16 cricketing regions from September 2 – October 30.
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The stylish left-hand batsman, who featured for Pakistan in 47 Tests and 156 one-day internationals, has also clarified his stance that he had “no qualms” over Pakistan playing India, but criticised the board members for what he believes to be their over-emphasis on the “money element” in the series.
