NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricket great Wasim Akram, who has been a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ecosystem as a coach and commentator, sparked a debate after criticizing the length of the IPL while speaking at a Pakistan Super League (PSL) promotional event. Akram praised the shorter format of the PSL and suggested that longer leagues tend to become monotonous.Go beyond the limits with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!He argued that the PSL’s duration of around 34 to 35 days makes it more attractive to foreign players compared to tournaments that last for months.
The IPL, now a 10-team competition, traditionally lasts two months. The 2024 season lasted 65 days, while the 2025 edition, shortened due to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, ran from March 22 to June 3.“The best thing about the league is that it is only played for 34 or 35 days, maybe a little more next year. It’s not three months, like the other league. Bacchey asked ho jate hain, woh liga khatam hi nahi hoti. Foreign players, when they come to Pakistan, prefer to stay here for 35 to 40 days. More than that (two and a half or three months) is too long for everyone. Even I get bored,” Akram said.He also drew comparisons with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), stating that the PSL’s competitive edge and bowling depth set it apart.“The best example is the BBL. They started with two and a half months. They realized after four or five years that it was not working. Now its duration is about 40 days. That’s it. That’s the beauty of the PSL. Of course, the talent. Everyone abroad, when I talk to them, they talk about bowling in the IPL and other leagues. They say that the PSL, as far as talent is concerned, is definitely number one because we have quality, not quantity,” he added.Akram’s comments sparked strong reactions online, with many cricket fans criticizing his comparison and timing, particularly given his long association with the IPL.
At the same event, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed lofty ambitions and said, “My vision is to make the PSL the number one league in the world.”