With the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League running side by side across neighbouring countries, a familiar debate has flared up again—this time not just among fans, but in the way international players are being questioned in Pakistan. Last week, several global names were asked to weigh the PSL against the IPL, and former Pakistan batter Ahmad Shahzad said the line of questioning has become needlessly humiliating for local cricketers, with Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw becoming the latest flashpoints.
Key takeaways
- Ahmad Shahzad criticised media members for steering questions that try to set the IPL against the PSL.
- He pointed out that Kusal Mendis is currently playing in the PSL and is being asked about leaving for the IPL.
- Shahzad also criticised Rilee Rossouw’s PSL struggles and his response to an IPL comparison question.
- Rossouw was described as saying the IPL has a “Bollywood movie” vibe and that competitiveness is higher in the PSL.
- Shahzad argued that any IPL–PSL comparison should be answered with “technical” reasoning rather than personal emotion.
Shahzad takes aim at the questioning style
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shahzad launched into a detailed rebuttal of how parts of the press framed questions to Kusal Mendis and Rossouw. In his view, the intent behind the questions was to create a comparison that could embarrass players—especially when they are in the middle of PSL duty.
He singled out the specific question put to Mendis about his move from last year’s PSL environment to join the IPL, saying it was both inappropriate and insensitive. “Kusal Mendis is playing and performing in the PSL, and he is being asked about how he left last year to go play in the IPL. Look at what you’re doing,” Shahzad said, expressing frustration that the reporter’s prompt met with nothing but silence from the Sri Lankan.
For Shahzad, the problem wasn’t only the topic, but the context: asking players to compare competitions while the PSL is underway. He argued that such questions are designed to force a reaction instead of inviting a considered cricketing answer.
Rossouw’s PSL form and the fallout from his “movie” remark
Shahzad said the situation became even more uncomfortable when the pressure turned toward Rossouw, both in the comparison itself and in Rossouw’s response. He referenced Rossouw’s lack of impact in the PSL and suggested the criticism should be understood against that backdrop.
“Then you look at Rilee Rossouw— you watch his performance and you can’t tell what is happening, what isn’t happening, but he is choosing to slander,” Shahzad said. He added that Rossouw was being asked what he thinks about the IPL while the PSL was in progress, and that Rossouw’s reply was not delivered in a balanced manner.
Shahzad specifically criticised the wording attributed to Rossouw, describing it as Rossouw characterising the IPL as a “Bollywood movie” and claiming that the competitiveness is “here” in the PSL. Shahzad’s argument was that such comments land as personal instead of cricket-based, especially given Rossouw’s recent PSL output.
He also highlighted Rossouw’s PSL record with Quetta Gladiators, stating that the South African has managed only 79 runs across four matches—an unremarkable return. Yet Shahzad noted Rossouw has not exactly set IPL stints alight either, referencing his time with RCB, DC, and PBKS as part of the broader point that the comparison should not be treated as a one-sided story of superiority.
Why Shahzad says IPL–PSL comparisons need “common sense”
Continuing his critique, Shahzad questioned the logic behind expecting players to openly rank one league above the other while they are employed and playing in the PSL. “When someone is taking money from you while playing PSL, do you think he will say IPL is number one? So it’s not a serious question,” he said, adding that the reporter’s approach was flawed.
He went further, arguing that if a player does not align with the PSL-first narrative, it can invite backlash. “If he doesn’t say PSL, won’t they make his life hell? There’s very few people who can work with honesty,” Shahzad remarked, implying that the media pressure makes it difficult for athletes to answer freely.
In the final part of his discussion, Shahzad outlined his own reasoning for why, in his view, the IPL has moved past the PSL. He said the gap is linked to the depth and quality of domestic talent as well as the international stars who feature in each tournament, and he argued that the overall standard of cricket demanded in the IPL sits at a higher level.
“There is no comparison between them, you need to make a question with some common sense. There was no purpose for this question, but even if they say it, you have to give a technical answer. It sounds like Rossouw has released some personal anger on the IPL,” Shahzad concluded, suggesting that Rossouw’s response reflected bias rather than a considered, cricketing assessment.
