- Â PSL certainly carved out its own niche and established itself as a premier cricket league in its own right
Interview with Mr. Abdul Wasey Khan — a cricket enthusiast
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Abdul Wasey Khan: I’m an internal auditor by profession, working as Head of Internal Audit, in a listed company. I am a former honorary secretary and Vice President of ICMA International. I am passionate about cricket.Â
PAGE: This season is the ninth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which makes it a veteran among T20 franchise leagues. What is your perspective?
Abdul Wasey Khan:Â No doubt it was really a good initiative taken by PCB, and it produced a number of excellent players for the national team, not only for T20 but also in One Day and Tests. It provides an awesome opportunity for youngsters to showcase their talent to the audience on a mass level, hence making it difficult for the selectors to neglect talent.
PAGE: The star quotient in the foreign player roster seems to have taken a hit this season. There’s a broader sense that with more money on offer in the ILT20 and SA20, and in more attractive destinations, the PSL might be the league the bigger names choose to skip in this cramped window. How would you comment on it?
Abdul Wasey Khan: That’s true, cricket has now become a professional game, and what other than big bucks can lure the big names to PSL. However, it’s an opportunity for the organisers to think big, and make PSL an even bigger and more successful league than ILT, or others. Remember that India would use every muscle to belittle PSL, and though we can’t compete with IPL, it now remains on us to support it and make our brand a successful one too.
PAGE: Each of the six franchises has won the league at least once. What is your standpoint?
Abdul Wasey Khan: Yes, no doubt, however, I think some franchises are more successful in reaching the playoffs than others, for example, Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi are more consistent than others in these terms. Quetta Gladiators was also a good one but for the last two or three seasons, it’s not clicking, however, this time I think, Quetta Gladiators have also gathered a good bunch, and I’m seeing it in playoffs. Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars seem to be underperformers this season.
PAGE: A year after BCCI banned all betting sponsorships for official broadcasters and IPL, the Pakistan government has also banned betting and surrogacy sponsorships for PSL franchises. Your views:
Abdul Wasey Khan:Â Betting is hurting not only the spirit of the game but also the confidence of cricket lovers, who would like to follow a game whose fate has already been decided before even a ball is balled? so it must be banned as it is the main reason for match or spot-fixing. Cricket is a gentleman’s game and should remain so at all times and costs.