The new year is set for a hectic start with a number of international series and T20 leagues jostling for breathing space.
Pakistan’s tour of Australia, India’s tour of South Africa, West Indies tour of Australia, and England’s tour of India will be just a few of the big international matches to start the year.
Simultaneously, T20 leagues will be running alongside, as the window for non-IPL tournaments is limited.
The International League T20 starts in the UAE on January 19 and a few weeks later, the Pakistan Super League will kick off in February. The Big Bash League in Australia will end in between – January 24.
With so many avenues available, cricketers now pick and choose when and where to play. Many are opting out of central contracts to get the best deals possible at international and franchise tournaments.
With cricket fixtures piling on top of each other, the challenge is to attract the top talent. And the best way to do that is through financial incentives.
The Pakistan Super League is not as cash rich as its Indian counterpart – well, no tournament is – but it is trying to get the best players possible.
Below is the list of the top earners at the 2024 edition of the PSL. It must be noted that the PSL follows a draft system, where the exact salary of player is not known since they are picked according to slabs, which can vary according to the star value of the cricketer.
The Platinum category is the top tier. Players there can earn anything between $130,000 and $170,000.
Highest-paid crickets of PSL 2024
Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars): up to $170,000*
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Shadab Khan (Islamabad United): $170,000
Rovman Powell (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Naseem Shah (Islamabad United): $170,000
Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars): $170,000
Iftikhar Ahmed (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Kieron Pollard (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Rassie van der Dussen (Lahore Qalandars): $170,000
Jordan Cox (Islamabad United): $170,000
David Willey (Multan Sultans): $170,000
Daniel Sams (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Mohammad Nawaz (Karachi Kings): $170,000
Sherfane Rutherford (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Mohammad Amir (Quetta Gladiators): $170,000
Noor Ahmad (Peshawar Zalmi): $170,000
Schedule
The ninth season of PSL is scheduled to take place from around the second week of February.
There is a lot of uncertainty around cricket administration in Pakistan, as it is being run by an interim administration. PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has been told that he can only run the day-to-day affairs of the board and major contracts and decisions need to be ratified by higher authorities. A broadcast deal is still not in place for PSL 2024. Also, general elections will be held in Pakistan in February, hence the lack of clarity.
