Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has raised concerns about the declining interest in Pakistan cricket, highlighting that the national team’s poor performances and growing fan disillusionment are damaging engagement levels. He pointed to the public’s frustration with underperforming senior players, which he believes has dampened enthusiasm for both international fixtures and the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
“Our team’s performance is very weak, and that’s reflected in the atmosphere surrounding cricket in the country. Sponsors are becoming hesitant, and some are even refraining from endorsing players because they know the public is upset,” Sethi said.
He explained that this general dissatisfaction is affecting fan turnout and commercial interest, posing a challenge to the sustainability of Pakistan’s cricketing ecosystem. Despite this, Sethi remains hopeful that the Pakistan Super League can continue to succeed, but only if these underlying issues are addressed.
In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Sethi also discussed the recent decision to shift the PSL schedule. The 2025 edition will take place in April instead of its traditional February window, as the ICC Champions Trophy is slated for February-March. This change means the PSL will now directly overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL), creating significant hurdles for attracting top-tier international players and capturing audience attention.
“The timing is tricky, and it creates complications for us,” Sethi shared.
Although the overlap with the IPL might make it difficult to secure major international stars, Sethi remained confident that PSL would still be able to field strong squads.
“Players will come. It’s a big world, and there’s always talent available,” he said, while conceding, “Top players might be hard to get.”
Amid these scheduling and performance-related challenges, Sethi also discussed the long-standing desire for greater collaboration between the IPL and PSL. He voiced support for the idea of a match between the champions of both leagues, believing it would spark tremendous interest from fans across the region.
“If the situation improves in the future, I think there should be a team of IPL champions and a PSL champion,” he said.
While acknowledging the political and security challenges that currently prevent such a clash, he expressed optimism that a neutral venue could one day host the event.
“If not in our own country, we can play in another country. Everyone wants to see India and Pakistan play against each other, whether in India or Pakistan,” he added.
Sethi also reflected on the mutual dream of Indian and Pakistani players participating in each other’s leagues—a vision that remains elusive under the current circumstances.
“It is our dream because, of course, India and Pakistan produce the best talent in the world. There is no doubt about it,” he said. “But will it be possible in the near future? I don’t see it happening soon,” he added.
Through all these remarks, Sethi painted a complex picture of Pakistan cricket today—one where poor results, scheduling conflicts, and geopolitical tensions threaten to erode fan loyalty and commercial viability, yet opportunities still exist for revival if addressed strategically.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
