Pakistan to host PSL roadshow in New York amid ‘growing interest’ from US, Middle East

Pakistan national cricket team players attend a PSL roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, England, on December 8, 2025. (PCB/File)
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Updated 13 December 2025
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Pakistan to host PSL roadshow in New York amid ‘growing interest’ from US, Middle East

  • Pakistan aims to add two new teams to existing six franchises for upcoming PSL edition
  • PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league featuring a mix of local and international stars

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will host a Pakistan Super League (PSL) roadshow in New York today, Saturday, amid “growing interest” from investors in the US, Middle East and Europe for its franchises, the board said in a statement. 

The development takes place days after the PCB held a roadshow in London to attract international investors to the PSL, Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league. The upcoming 11th edition of the league, set to take place next year in April and May, will feature two new teams to the existing roster of six. 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Friday that the board has pushed the deadline to submit bids for the two new teams till Dec. 22 amid “growing interest” from investors in the Middle East, Europe and the US. 

“Today, the grand spectacle of the Super PSL will take place in New York, USA, the world’s leading economic hub,” the PCB said in a statement. 

Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, has arrived in New York to attend the roadshow, the board said. 

The statement said American and overseas Pakistani investors will attend the New York roadshow.

“I thank Allah that the PSL is today shining at the international level,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by the PCB. 

The PSL’s roadshow in London earlier this week featured former cricketing greats such as Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja who attended the event with current stars Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf. 

Azam, Rauf and Farhan spoke at the event, highlighting their PSL journeys so far and how the tournament has propelled their careers to new heights. 

Within a span of 10 years, PSL has competed for viewership with some of the most prominent cricket leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash League, the Hundred, and the Caribbean Premier League, among others.


Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media

Updated 16 min 44 sec ago
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Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media

  • Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
  • Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources. 

The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence. 

Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.

“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources. 

“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”

In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs. 

According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.” 

“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states. 

The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more. 

The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.

Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.

Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.