‘Then we’ll see who goes to play the Indian T20 League’ – Ramiz Raja hints at massive change in Pakistan T20 League

Ramiz Raja has been a popular face for Pakistan cricket for over 13 years. He played in 57 Tests and 198 ODIs for Pakistan. Even after his playing days, he has been associated with the game. After his retirement from cricket, Raja shifted to the broadcasting field. He has been a popular commentator for multiple broadcasters. In the initial stages of the Indian T20 League, Raja was often seen commentating over the matches.

He then shifted his focus to the administrative aspect of the game and is currently the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo Raja hinted at a radical rule change in the Pakistan T20 League.

According to Raja, the Pakistan league will move away from the current draft system of acquiring players in the league to the famous auction system of the Indian T20 League. He believes that this will attract the world’s biggest players to the league and they may even choose the Pakistan T20 league over the Indian T20 League.

The advent of the Indian T20 League revolutionized cricket in more ways than one. As the Indian T20 League grew in stature, its success rubbed on similar T20 leagues in other countries as well.

“We need to create new properties to be financially independent. We have nothing for now but PSL and ICC funds. There’s an argument over the model from next year, I want to switch it to an auction model from next year. The market forces are conducive, but we’ll sit down with the franchise owners to discuss it,” he said.

He also said that the current market of cricket is a game of money. He feels that the respect of Pakistan cricket in the cricketing fraternity will rise as the cricket economy grows in Pakistan.

“The market forces are conducive, but we’ll sit down with the franchise owners to discuss it. This is a game of money. When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is the PSL. If we take the PSL to auction model, increase the purse, then I’ll put it in the IPL bracket. And then we’ll see who goes to play the IPL over the PSL,” he further added.

Notably, the Pakistan T20 League’s latest edition concluded recently where the Lahore Qalandars finished as the champions.