Picture Credit: Twitter
PCB chairman Ramiz Raja recently made some big claims while comparing Pakistan Super League to Indian Premier League. While suggesting that he is planning to change the model of PSL from next season, he said, "If we take the PSL to auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in the IPL bracket. And then we'll see who goes to play the IPL over the PSL."
Raja's comments attracted a lot of attention from cricket experts across the globe and fans on social media and now former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has given his opinion on the same. "Even if you do an auction instead of drafts, it is not going to happen, you will not see a player playing for 16 crores in the PSL. It cannot happen at all, market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen, it’s as simple as that," said Chopra on his official YouTube channel.
The 44-year-old then went on to give an epic response to Ramiz Raja by citing an example. "To be very honest, Chris Morris’ one ball, when he played last time, was more expensive than the players’ salary in other leagues. Is it even possible to compete or compare yourself with the IPL, whether it is PSL, BBL, The Hundred or the CPL? Is it a slightly misplaced judgment?” he added.
Can IPL and PSL be compared?
Aakash Chopra's statement might not be absolutely correct factually but he is indeed right in saying that PSL and IPL cannot be compared as of now. The current salary slabs for players in PSL is as follows:
Platinum Category: INR 98 Lakhs
Diamond Category: INR 49 Lakhs
Gold Category: INR 35 Lakhs
Silver Category: INR 17.5 Lakhs
Emerging Category: INR 7 Lakhs
Comparison between Morris' IPL salary and players' salary in PSL
Meanwhile, Chris Morris (who was bought for INR 16.25 crores in IPL 2021) bowled 41 overs in that season. It means he earned a sum of around INR 40 lakhs per over i.e. around INR 6.5 lakhs per ball. The numbers suggest that if Morris bowled 3 overs in a match, he earned more money by playing one IPL game than what players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi etc. got throughout the entire season of PSL.
There is no doubt that PSL is growing strength by strength, but Ramiz Raja's comments on the comparison between the two leagues actually does not tell the reality as there is still a significant difference between the financial power of both leagues.