Mohsin Naqvi fires bold IPL warning, claims PSL set to become 'world’s No.1 T20 league'

Mohsin Naqvi’s claim comes despite a significant gap between the two leagues.

Published on: Apr 6, 2026, 08:56:46 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi issued a bold challenge to the world’s richest T20 league, the Indian Premier League, claiming that the Pakistan Super League is growing rapidly and could soon overtake it to become the world’s top franchise competition.

Naqvi’s remarks come at a time when the ongoing 11th edition of the PSL is being played under constraints, with matches limited to two venues amid regional tensions. In contrast, the IPL continues to be staged across multiple cities without disruption.

Speaking at a meeting of the PCB Board of Governors, Naqvi pointed to rising investor interest as a key driver behind his assertion. He claimed that the PSL has emerged as a highly attractive investment market, which could accelerate its growth in the coming years.

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“The PSL has now become the best market for investment,” Naqvi said. “The time is not far when the PSL will become the world’s number one league.”

He added that strong participation in the PSL 2026 franchise-related processes reflects growing confidence in Pakistan’s cricket ecosystem.

PSL vs IPL

Naqvi’s claim comes despite a significant gap between the two leagues. The IPL’s media rights are valued at around USD 6 billion, compared to approximately USD 93 million for the PSL. The IPL’s annual revenue exceeds USD 1 billion, while the PSL is estimated to generate close to USD 60 million.

A recent rankings chart released by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) further highlights the disparity. The PSL is placed fifth with 48 points, while the IPL ranks third with 62.2 points, behind The Hundred (75.2) and SA20 (68).

The PSL’s ongoing season has also faced controversies. Fakhar Zaman was found guilty in a ball-tampering incident and suspended for two matches. In a separate case, Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza were penalised for bringing unauthorised guests into the team hotel, which was treated as a security breach.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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