PSL franchise owners are working hard to sign unsold IPL players due to this big reason

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise owners and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) find themselves in a huge problem. According to PTI, it is learned that the owners and governing bodies are finding it difficult to sign overseas players who were not sold in the IPL auction.

Pakistan Super League 2025 will clash with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The Pakistan League will be played from April 8 to May 19 as the 2025 International Champions Trophy will be held within its window.

The franchise owners are keen on signing some big names like David Warner, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Jonny Bairstow and others. However, they face challenges in signing these players due to the salary cap on foreign stars.

PSL players' salary cap of $200,000 poses challenges for owners and PCB

According to reports, the $200,000 salary cap for players poses a challenge to the owners and PCB. Both parties know that high-profile players who are not sold in the IPL will not be signed into the league for less than $200,000.

It is understood that some team owners are hesitant to pay players more than the tournament's salary cap. Not only that, they also believe that if a team directly signs well-known players with higher salaries, it may cause dissatisfaction among other players, especially local players.

It is also reported that the team has contacted the agents of those players who were not sold in the IPL. Sources revealed that they have inquired about a possible deal, but so far there has been no clarity.

With the draft for the tournament scheduled to take place on January 11, PSL teams are scrambling to figure out how to sign high-profile players and ensure there is no sense of inequality among players, a source said. Speaking to PTI, he explained:

“But the problem is that time is running out for the player draft scheduled for January 11 to find a way to sign high-profile players and ensure that there is no sense of inequality among PSL players,” a source said.

PCB does not want to be involved in talks between PSL franchises and overseas players

He also added that PCB executive Salman Naseer has also advised franchise owners to speak directly to players' agents. He added that the PCB did not want to be involved in negotiations. He explained:

“PSL's new CEO Salman Nasir even suggested that franchise owners speak directly to players' agents so that the PCB would not be involved in negotiations.”

He further added: “Some teams are also against bypassing the draft and insist that all key players should be involved.”

Also read: Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib punished by ICC for breaching code of conduct