Franchise owners proposed starting the league at the end of January 2025 with a conclusion in February, but the board officials disagreed.

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced match officials for the Pakistan versus New Zealand five-match T20I series, which is set to be played from 18 April to 27 April in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Andy Pycroft, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control team that includes five umpires, namely Ahsan Raza (elite panelist), Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz (all from the ICC’s international panel), who will share umpiring responsibilities.

Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe Test batter, has to date refereed in 144 T20Is. When he will stand in the second T20I on 20 April, he will move ahead of Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle in second place in the list of match referees to officiate in most T20Is. The list is headed by New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe (175).

The Pindi Stadium will stage the opening three T20Is on 18, 20 and 21 April before action will move to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium where the last two matches will be played on 25 and 27 April.

Umpire and match referee appointments:

18 April – First T20I. Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Faisal Afridi (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

20 April – Second T20I. Asif Yaqoob and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

21 April – Third T20I. Ahzan Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Aleem Dar (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

25 April – Fourth T20I. Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

27 April – Rashid Riaz and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

PSL 10 faces scheduling hurdles as PCB struggles to find window

The Pakistan Cricket Board traditionally hosts the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between January and March each year. However, organizing the tenth edition of PSL in 2025 during this timeframe presents significant challenges.

In January 2025, the Pakistani team will conclude their tour of South Africa and then head to New Zealand for a limited-overs tour. In February, plans have been announced for a One Day triangular series involving teams from New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy during February and March 2025. Hence, concerns have been raised by franchises about finding a suitable window for the tournament.

Franchise owners proposed starting the league at the end of January 2025 with a conclusion in February, but the board officials disagreed. They argued that hosting the triangular series after 20 years is a significant opportunity for Pakistan and shouldn’t be missed. Complicating matters, the South African league (SA20) is also scheduled to commence in January. In the past, South Africa has shown a preference for their T20 league over international series, opting to send a less experienced team to New Zealand during league. Consequently, concerns arise that they may choose to field a weakened squad for the tri-series.

The PCB aims to conduct PSL alongside the IPL in April after the conclusion of the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, franchises are apprehensive, fearing issues with quality foreign player participation and competition from the Indian league. Notable players may prefer the IPL due to higher compensation, potentially affecting PSL’s quality and viewer interest, particularly among overseas audiences.

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There was a suggestion to hold PSL 10 in September 2024, but this was swiftly dismissed due to scheduling conflicts with England’s tour of Pakistan in October and Pakistan’s tour of Australia in November 2024.

The tenth edition of PSL marks the end of the current contracts, and discussions about expanding the number of teams and renewing contracts with existing franchises are on the horizon. The success of the 10th edition is crucial for maintaining the brand value of PSL.

Franchise owners have reached out to the PCB for discussions on these issues, but they have yet to receive a response. Despite a single meeting where the idea of separating PSL into a separate company was mentioned, further progress has been hindered by scheduling conflicts and holidays. However, there’s hope for a meeting in the near future to address these important matters.