Pakistan Super League next year may fall prey to ICC Champions Trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next September due to clash of dates as the ICC Champions Trophy is also scheduled to be held in September or October 2009.

Islamabad, Sep 13 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next September due to clash of dates as the ICC Champions Trophy is also scheduled to be held in September or October 2009.

According to former PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf's announcement in July, the board would hold the PSL, involving the UAE as one of the important partners in the league, to be held annually during the month of September.

But an official of the PCB, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the PSL was not a priority of the board right now as all its focus was on the Champions Trophy.

"It's not on the current agenda of the PCB as our management is focused more on holding the Champions Trophy in the country," Dawn quoted the official, as saying.

The September 12-28 Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan, was postponed after South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand declined to play here, citing security concerns.

Still Pakistan is pushing for the tournament, sticking to its stance of hosting the event.

"The PSL was an idea forwarded by the former PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf and he is no longer the chairman," the official pointed out.

But the next man to fill the PCB's top slot may start working again on lucrative PSL.

ANI