DUBAI: New Pakistan cricket chief Ehsan Mani said on Saturday his board would review their stance on global leagues and seek assurances from the game’s governing body.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this year restricted its players’ participation to one league other than their own Pakistan Super League to reduce their workload.
The mushrooming of the leagues has also endangered the future of the traditional five-day game with some players giving up red-ball cricket to ensure maximum earnings through Twenty20 and T10 (ten overs a side game) leagues.
Despite criticism, PCB released 10 of its highest-paid contracted players to participate in the T10 league, held in Sharjah last year, including the current captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir.
The league was a big hit and will be extended to eight teams from six and will be held from November 23 to December 2 this year.
But Mani, speaking at the Asia Cup, said his board will seek assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“I didn’t understand the rationale on what basis we committed our players for the leagues,” Mani told reporters. “The main criteria, which I understand, was that how much money PCB gets and how much players will get.
“But they (the previous set up of the PCB) did not look at the players’ workload. So I will examine all the leagues in which Pakistan players participate.
“We need to do the due diligence in whichever leagues we are participating whether they are credible or not.”
Mani said he has asked the ICC to give assurance of the fairness of the leagues.
“I am holding back my position (on T10) until I get full satisfaction... so I have requested the ICC to look into it again.
“I need assurances from the ICC because they have sanctioned it.”
The lucrative Indian Premier League was rocked in 2013 over match-fixing allegations, resulting in a two-year ban on two franchises and a life ban on international player Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.
The same year Bangladesh Premier League was hit by fixing scandal, with seven players charged.
Pakistan’s own PSL — held in the United Arab Emirates since 2016 — was rocked by spot-fixing scandals in its second year that resulted in five-year bans for openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif.
Pakistan to review position on global cricket leagues
Pakistan to review position on global cricket leagues
- Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this year restricted its players from participating in leagues, other than their own Pakistan Super League
- PCB released 10 of its highest-paid contracted players to participate in the T10 league, held in Sharjah last year
IMF mission begins talks in Islamabad as Pakistan seeks next program review
- Finance ministry confirms ‘kick-off meeting’ with visiting IMF delegation
- Review critical for next tranche under $7 billion bailout program
KARACHI: Pakistan began formal talks with a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on Monday as the country prepares for the next review of its $7 billion bailout program.
The IMF team is in Pakistan to conduct a review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved in September 2024, a multi-year program aimed at stabilizing the economy after a balance-of-payments crisis, high inflation and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Pakistan has so far received roughly $3 billion of the EFF. Successful completion of the latest review could pave the way for the release of the next tranche of funds, subject to IMF board approval.
Separately in 2024, Pakistan also secured about $1.3 billion under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility, a climate-focused funding window aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to manage environmental and disaster-related risks.
“Kick-off meeting with IMF Mission held today,” the finance ministry said on Monday as it shared visuals of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and senior officials meeting the delegation in Islamabad.
IMF country representative in Pakistan, Mahir Binici, told Arab News in an emailed statement;
“An IMF mission led by Ms. Iva Petrova has started discussions with the authorities in Karachi and Islamabad on the third review of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and the second review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).”
The discussions are expected to focus on Pakistan’s fiscal performance, revenue collection targets, structural reform implementation and broader macroeconomic stability measures agreed under the program.
The review comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan’s economy, with rising global oil prices and regional instability adding pressure to inflation and external accounts. Analysts say continued IMF engagement remains crucial for maintaining investor confidence and securing external financing.
Pakistan entered the IMF program to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public finances and rebuild foreign exchange reserves. Authorities have repeatedly described the reform agenda as necessary to ensure long-term economic resilience.
Further meetings between technical teams are expected over the coming days.
