The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and owners of all eight Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have discussed the possibility of holding next year’s tournament in January instead of the usual April-May window.
According to a Cricinfo report, the proposal was discussed during a PSL Governing Council meeting in London. The move is being considered partly because of concerns over limited advertising revenue during April and May.
Franchise owners, however, have raised concerns about whether they would receive their full share of broadcast revenue. Under the current agreement, franchises receive 95% of broadcast revenue from the central revenue pool.
The PSL’s first nine editions were held in February and March, but the tournament was moved to April-May in the last two seasons due to international commitments, including the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup.
A return to January could create competition for overseas players with South Africa’s SA20 and Australia’s Big Bash League. Weather could also pose challenges, particularly in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, where winter temperatures and fog may affect matches and travel.
One proposal is to begin the tournament in Karachi, where winter weather is milder, before moving matches to Punjab and Peshawar as temperatures improve.
Pakistan currently has an international cricket window from mid-November to March, providing the PCB with potential flexibility to schedule the next PSL season earlier.
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