PESHAWAR: Peshawar Zalmi will keep Babar Azam as their captain for the upcoming 11th season of Pakistan Super League.
The franchise has decided to release opener Saim Ayub before the upcoming players’ auction, according to sources.
Peshawar Zalmi included both Babar Azam and Saim Ayub in their platinum player category. The PSL rules permit franchises to keep one player from each player category.
With this decision, Saim Ayub will now be available to all franchises in the PSL players’ auction.
It is worth noting that all PSL franchises are expected to announce their retained players today.
PSL hits new high with record-breaking global media rights
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has established a new milestone for its international media rights which now show a 149 percent increase in value compared to the previous year.
Walee Technologies has secured the global media rights for one year which covers all territories except India. The company placed a bid higher than the reserve price set by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Officials said the sharp rise in value reflects the growing popularity and strong brand value of the PSL at the international level. The league continues to strengthen its position among the world’s top T20 competitions.
The league has now reached its position as one of the top T20 leagues which exists between Major League Baseball and English Premier League in international cricket. The increase in international media rights by 149 percent demonstrates that worldwide audiences believe in the PSL. The league has attracted global fans because it delivers both competitive and high-quality cricket matches.
The new agreement that exists between Salman Naseer and the league brings new strength to his belief about the league’s business expansion. He praised Walee Technologies for submitting a record-breaking bid and said the success is the result of collective efforts by all stakeholders.
The three main groups who include franchises, players, and partners, have contributed to transforming PSL into a worldwide brand. The league has expanded its media rights and sponsorship revenue since 2016, which has allowed PSL to become Pakistan’s most valuable sports brand, as seen in continuous growth in media rights and sponsorships, making PSL the largest sports brand in Pakistan.
To expand its global audience, PSL’s international reach has been further increased. Matches will now be available to viewers worldwide on a larger scale than before.
Walee Technologies CEO Muhammad Ahsan Tahir said the deal represents a victory for everyone who believes in “Made in Pakistan” technology. He added that the company has several plans in place for the PSL.
