LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board has denied a request from the players participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to skip the exhibition match planned in Quetta ahead of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) commencement. According to media reports, the players had requested PCB to extend their stay in Bangladesh beyond February 3. Najam Sethi, the chairman of the PCB management committee said some players had requested the board to allow them to skip the upcoming exhibition match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators in Quetta on February 5.

"The decision to host an exhibition match in Quetta was to put a soft image of Baluchistan which is considered a 'troubled province'. This match is in our national interest and we all have to make it successful," said Sethi."Franchises told me that few of their players are not willing to come back from BPL. There are 4-5 players who have requested to let them complete their BPL contract. But, I want to give a clear message, they have to come back as we want them for our national interest." "It's our contractual right that whenever we want our players, we can call them back anytime from anywhere. This happens all around the world. I know, they want to earn money by completing their contract, but we need them to fulfill our national interest," he added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 30 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.