ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Indian Premier League (IPL)have been compared since the first season of Pakistani league in 2016.Despite the huge budget and glamour power of IPL, the PSL has made its markin cricket community as the players, commentators, cricket experts, andformer players have praised it for the high standards, mainly in bowlingand fielding, and the passion for the game in the league.

Here are the five reasons, we think PSL is better than IPL.

*NOT JUST A LEAGUE, IT’S ABOUT BRINGING CRICKET BACK TO PAKISTAN *

For Pakistanis and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), PSL is not just a league,it is about bringing the cricket back to the country. Pakistan has beendeprived of cricket on its grounds since 2009 when Sri Lankan team wasattacked in Lahore.

The cricket board has made numerous efforts to bring back the cricket toPakistan since then, but largely, remained unsuccessful. The final of PSLseason 2 was held in Lahore and it was a huge event for Pakistani fans.Despite, the main players of Quetta Gladiators refused to come to Pakistan,the fans poured into the stadium because it is cricket, which mattered forthem. The fans are eager to watch cricket in their own stadiums, and PSL 2final played a major role in bringing the game because, in season 3 of PSL,three matches were played in Pakistan, along with World XI tour and SriLanka team tour, mainly because of successful PSL 2 final in Lahore. So,for Indian fans, IPL is a cricket league, but for Pakistanis, it is returnof cricket in their country.

*TOP FIELDING STANDARDS *

Pakistan national team is not famous for fielding, for sure, but the PSLhas *best catch-conversion percentagelink>*rateacross all Twenty Twenty franchise leagues. According to a recentreport, the PSL has a catch-conversion percentage of 82%, which ismarginally better than the IPL which has a catch-conversion rate of 81%.Shockingly enough, the BBL is at number three by a significant differencewith a catch-conversion percentage of only 76%. Despite being famous forblinding catches and Australia’s famed fielding standards, the BBL islagging behind both the PSL and the IPL. Lowest in the ranks is the CPLwhich has a much lower ratio at only 72% of catches held per opportunity.

*QUALITY MATTERS MORE THAN MONEY*

IPL is far richer league than PSL, but it does not mean that Pakistanileague has compromised on its quality. The Pakistani franchises have boughtalmost the same players, in far less fee. Moreover, to maintain thequality, the PSL is held in fewer days, making it more exciting. The longduration can make a league rather boring and stretchy losing the viewers.Here is the chart of fee difference among players bought by both PSL andIPL.

*MORE INDIANS WATCHED PSL2 FINAL THAN PAKISTANIS THEMSELVES*

So, this is a surprise, rather good one. According to a report byofficial PSL website, Cricketgateway, the Pakistani were not the top viewerof PSL season 2 final.

In terms of the viewership, the PSL final had the biggest following inIndia, the report said.

According to the statistics, of the total viewership of the match, 28.22were Indian, while 21.47 of the traffic during the match came from Pakistan.

*DESPITE RIVALRY, PSL BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER *

The PSL has shown the real rivalry between Lahore and Karachi, and fans ofboth sides constantly show their love for their side on social media, whileon other hand IPL has remained unable to establish a rivalry between NewDelhi and Mumbai.

Despite, the rivalry, the league brings whole Pakistan together. The PSL 2final was played between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators at Lahore’sGaddafi Stadium, but the fans poured in. Same happened in PSL 3 final whenKarachi Kings did not qualify for the final, but Karachitis came in hugenumbers, because for them, it is the cricket, which really matters.By: Sulman Ali