Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has issued a striking challenge to the Indian Premier League, saying the Pakistan Super League is expanding quickly and may soon rise to the top spot among the world’s franchise T20 competitions. His comments come at a time when the 11th edition of the PSL is being staged under tight conditions, with games restricted to just two venues amid regional tensions. Meanwhile, the IPL is continuing across multiple cities without the same kind of disruption.
Speaking during a meeting of the PCB Board of Governors, Naqvi pointed to surging investor appetite as the backbone of his belief that the PSL can outgrow its current position. He argued that the league has developed into an increasingly attractive investment proposition, suggesting that momentum could build further in the years ahead. “The PSL has now become the best market for investment,” Naqvi said, adding that the gap to the world’s top league will not remain for long. He also suggested that the level of interest shown during the PSL 2026 franchise-related processes is a sign of rising confidence in Pakistan’s wider cricket set-up.
Naqvi’s optimism is notable given the scale of difference between the two leagues. The IPL’s media rights value is estimated at roughly USD 6 billion, while the PSL sits at about USD 93 million. Financially, the IPL is reported to earn more than USD 1 billion each year, whereas the PSL is projected to generate close to USD 60 million annually. A recent rankings chart released by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) further underlines the imbalance: the PSL is placed fifth with 48 points, while the IPL sits third with 62.2 points, positioned behind The Hundred (75.2) and SA20 (68).
On the field, the PSL’s current run has not been without controversy. Fakhar Zaman was found guilty of ball-tampering and subsequently handed a two-match suspension. In another disciplinary matter, Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza were penalised for bringing unauthorised guests into the team hotel, with the incident treated as a security breach. For Naqvi, however, the league’s commercial trajectory appears to be the central message—one that he believes can carry the PSL toward the elite tier of global franchise cricket.
