The controversy surrounding players’ participation in the Pakistan Super League is quite well documented. Some of the foreign players left the tournament before the playoffs commenced since those matches of the competition took place in Pakistan.

Ever since the Sri Lankan cricket team were attacked in Pakistan in 2009, players have refused to play in the country. While some players have gradually agreed to play in Pakistan, others haven’t and the ones that have are being paid extra money to do so in the PSL.

This has irked Pakistan legend Mushtaq Ahmed, who feels that players who agree to play in Pakistan should be the only ones that are picked for the PSL draft. He also added that the habit of giving players extra remuneration to visit Pakistan should also be stopped.

“PSL has become a brand now. Now, only players who agree to visit Pakistan should be drafted in the next edition,” he was quoted as saying by CricTracker.

“The practice of paying players extra to visit Pakistan should be ended too. Players should only be paid the amount promised in the contracts. Franchises paying players extra to come to Pakistan has set a wrong precedent. Spectators will still support the PSL even if foreign players opt out of visiting Pakistan,” Mushtaq added.

Mushtaq Ahmed, who is the head coach of the National Cricket Academy in Pakistan, realizes that the whole tournament will eventually be played in Pakistan and that the board should take necessary steps to ensure that it happens soon.  

“The whole tournament [PSL] has to take place in Pakistan eventually, so the administration should try to hold more matches in the country next year. Former cricketers should be brought in to talk to the players because their word is more important to the foreign players,” he concluded.