Former India opener Aakash Chopra has shared his two cents on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja’s plans of shifting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from a player draft system to an auction model in order to keep foreign players from choosing IPL over PSL.
Ramiz said that introducing a player auction to the PSL, will elevate the T20 league and bring it in the bracket of the Indian Premier League.
“The market forces are conducive, but we'll sit down with the franchise owners to discuss it. This is a game of money. When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is the PSL. 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,” Ramiz had said.
This led to many reactions on social media comparing the brand values of the two T20 leagues citing the difference between the pay brackets in IPL auction and potential PSL auction.
Adding his opinion in the matter was Aakash Chopra, who said that even if there is an auction in the PSL, no player is going to get sold for ₹16 crores in the league because the market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen. The most expensive player in the PSL draft is from the Platinum category which brings PKR 2,30,44,000 price tag.
Twitterati roast PCB chief Ramiz Raja for his comments on adopting auction model in PSL to beat IPL
Meanwhile, the most expensive player in IPL 2021 was Chris Morris for INR 16 crores bought by Rajasthan Royals, while in IPL 2022 auction was Ishan Kishan, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 15.50 crores.
“There's money from selling rights; on the basis of that, you analyze the value of the league and the value of the teams. Then, you divide the purse and start the league, whether by auction or by draft. Ramiz bhai says that if there's an auction in the PSL, the price limit will increase which is the case. But you won't see a player being sold for ₹16 crores in PSL.
It is not possible. Market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen. It's as simple as that. The biggest thing that India has is the people who watch the game, they're the ones who pay a lot of money. Our population of 130 crores is an asset,” said Aakash on his official YouTube channel.
Further putting his point, Aakash said that the number of people watching the league is the biggest driving force behind the value of a league.
“You don't have 100 crore people. Suppose Rohit Sharma plays in the PSL. Do you think the broadcaster, who was, let's assume, earlier paying 7000 crores, will suddenly increase the money to ₹35,000 crore? It isn't as if more people in Pakistan will start watching because a Virat Kohli or a Rohit Sharma is playing in PSL. You can maybe consider a 10 percent increase in viewership from the NRIs, but that is not going to suddenly increase your valuation,” said Aakash.
“India has the audience. It's not down to the Indian players. It is not down to the player salaries, it is not down to auction or draft. I don't think anyone can compete with the Indian Premier League. So, Ramiz bhai, with all due respect, the truth is that cricket economics is not going to work with draft or auction,” he added.
The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 26, when MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings meet the Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.
