Monitoring Desk
\nIslamabad
\nFormer cricketers Rashid Latif and Aaqib Javed have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to address the \u201cgenuine\u201d concerns of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises and reach an out-of-court settlement regarding the league\u2019s financial model, also reminding the Board how the team owners had poured in billions \u201cwhen no one had even heard of the PSL\u201d.
\nAs per a report in Daily Express, Aaqib, the Lahore Qalandars coach, was the first to plead the franchises\u2019 case.
\n\u201cFranchises should not be treated as associations,\u201d he is quoted as saying.
\n\u201cThe franchises had the PCB\u2019s back in troubled times and suffered losses of billions. They invested when no one knew of the PSL. The concerns regarding the ratio of franchises\u2019 profits to their investment were aired during the Najam Sethi administration too but were ignored. The incumbent regime has done the same.
\n\u201cThe PSL has massive expenses. The management is independent in its decision making and spends as much as it wants on anything it wants. Just look at the opening ceremony held this year. Because of this, even Quetta Gladiators, the franchise with the least amount of investment, was unable to turn a profit so just imagine how bad it would be for the rest of the sides.\u201d
\n\u201cA system that only supports one party cannot last long. We have built a brand, and now it needs to be saved.\u201d
\nLatif, a former captain of the national team who now serves as a cricket analyst, reminded the PCB how it was reneging on its promises.
\n\u201cThe owners were told that their franchises would get profitable after three years,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have now waited for five years. Now their valid demands at the very least must be accepted.
\n\u201cThe franchises should have been encouraged but instead they are told that \u2018you\u2019re free to leave if you don\u2019t agree with the policies\u2019.\u201d
\n\u201cIf an out-of-court settlement is not reached then it would hurt Pakistan cricket.\u201d
\nThe half a dozen PSL franchises recently teamed up and approached the Lahore High Court over the PSL\u2019s financial model, which they say helps \u201cthe PCB makes billions while we\u2019re losing billions\u201d.
\nThe PCB had expressed its disappointment at being dragged into the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monitoring Desk Islamabad Former cricketers Rashid Latif and Aaqib Javed have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to address the \u201cgenuine\u201d concerns of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises and reach an out-of-court settlement regarding the league\u2019s financial model, also reminding the Board how the team owners had poured in billions \u201cwhen no one had even […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n