ISLAMABAD – Four franchises of the Pakistan Super League don’t want thenational team’s head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq’s involvementin any capacity in the fifth edition of the T20 event next year.
In a recent meeting with the six franchises to finalise the categories ofplayers for next month’s players draft, a Pakistan Cricket Board officialwas clearly told by at least four franchises that allowing Misbah to bepart of the PSL would amount to conflict of interest.
“These franchises made it clear they don’t want Misbah to take part in thePSL in any capacity either as coach or director with any franchise as itwould be a major conflict of interest,” a source said.
He said the franchises had noted that last year also when Inzamam-ul-Haqwas chief selector they had ensured he was dropped from the committee thatfinalised players list for draft and later also had to call off hisassociation with a franchise.
“One franchise owner made the point that the PCB chairman Ehsan Manihimself has said that he couldn’t remove Pakistan’s former head coachMickey Arthur and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood from the support staff of afranchise as they had got permission to take part in the PSL from theprevious PCB chairman,” the source said.Advertisement
However, as per the agreement signed between Misbah and PCB, the former isentitled to work for any franchise during the PSL, but without anyremuneration from the board.
Two franchises are said to be in negotiations with Misbah for the comingseason to work as their coach or director.
The 5th PSL is scheduled to be held in February-March, 2020.