PCB plans PSL Sixes tournament in off-season as Mohsin Naqvi board eyes wider reach

PSL Sixes on the drawing board

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led by chairman Mohsin Naqvi, is exploring plans to launch a new six-a-side cricket tournament called the PSL Sixes. The aim is to make cricket more entertaining for fans while expanding the reach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Speaking on a PSL podcast, league chief executive Salman Naseer said the tournament is still under discussion and no final decision has been made.

"Nothing is finalised, but there are some exciting plans, and one of them is a sixes tournament, called the PSL Sixes, which will be in the off-season. We will look into the prospect of launching this tournament, and it will be very exciting, entertaining and engaging for the fans when it becomes a recurring feature," he said.

Taking cricket to smaller cities

The PCB is also considering taking the competition to smaller stadiums and cities where regular PSL matches have not been held. This could help more fans watch live cricket and give the tournament a wider audience.

"Maybe even going to the smaller stadiums and smaller cities, where we have not been able to take the PSL, and we know the fans are eager to watch cricket. So, a smaller event might be doable, which is what we are exploring," he added.

Unlike the Hong Kong Sixes, which features teams representing different countries, the proposed PSL Sixes is expected to follow a franchise-based format, with teams representing cities and regions in Pakistan.

Hong Kong legacy

Pakistan have been highly successful in the Hong Kong Sixes, winning the tournament six times since it began in 1992. They are the defending champions, with the next edition scheduled for October 31 and November 1.

Over-50s team denied travel to India

In a separate development, the PCB has reportedly refused permission for Pakistan's over-50s team to travel to India for the International Masters Cricket World Cup in January next year. The team won the previous edition in Sri Lanka, but the board informed the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association that it could not travel to India for the upcoming tournament.