The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is moving closer to securing Qatar as a venue for its franchise-based Twenty20 league. If that goes well next year, Doha could become an alternative venue for Pakistan in which to play its home internationals.
The PCB had initially planned to use the UAE — which it uses for its international commitments — as a launching pad for its league. But tardiness in booking venues meant they lost out to the Masters Champions League (MCL), a Twenty20 league for retired players due to launch in February next year.
The launch dates for both leagues clashed, but the MCL, run by a local business group, had booked the stadiums in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi well in advance.
In sticking to its contractual commitment with the MCL, some tension has emerged between the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the PCB.
PCB officials have said that a final decision on the venue will be taken at the end of this month, holding out hope that a compromise can be reached between them, the MCL and the ECB.
But increasingly it appears as if they have now settled for Qatar as a venue. Officials involved in the Pakistan Super League — as it is likely to be known — and from the PCB are in Dubai this week.
The purpose of the visit is not to speak to the ECB or MCL about their league but to meet international event management companies to potentially become involved with the league.
From here, they will go to Doha to meet officials from the Qatar Cricket Association and from the country’s Olympic Association. On this trip, one official said, the PCB “could get very close to finalising” it as a venue.
That means the entire league will have to be played out in one stadium, a scenario requiring considerable upgrades on the facilities that are available there currently.
The PCB may, for example, send their curators there a few months in advance to enable them to develop more playing strips on the ground.
Though far from ideal for a league with five franchises and a home-and-away concept, the PCB is committed to getting the league off the ground this time. Twice before they have announced the launch of the league, only to postpone it for various reasons.
Playing outside Pakistan increases the chances of attracting top talent from around the world, a factor officials feel is central to the success of the league. The process of contacting international players has already begun, though the franchises do not yet exist.
League officials said they would not rule out considering the UAE as a venue for the league in future seasons.
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