Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has taken a humourous jab at the months-long T20 cricketing leagues, praising the shorter format of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

 

Speaking at the PSL's historic roadshow at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Monday, Akram highlighted the league's efficient scheduling as one of its key strengths. 

 

"The best thing about PSL is that it lasts for 34 days or a bit more next year. It’s not three months long like other leagues," he said. 

 

"Bachay bade ho jate hai, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti [kids grow up but the league doesn't end]," he remarked, in an apparent reference to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash.

 

He explained that foreign players prefer shorter commitments when playing in leagues.

 

"At least foreign players, when they come to Pakistan, to any league, they prefer to be there for 35 to 40 days. More than that, two and a half, three months is a bit too long for everyone. I mean, even I get bored watching league cricket for three months," he said.

 

He cited the Big Bash League as a prime example of leagues realising the drawbacks of extended formats.

 

"It started out for three months, two and a half months, and now they realized after about four, five years, it's not working. And now their period, I think now their time is about 40 days. About 40 days, 10 games each, six teams and finish off," he added.

 

Akram also addressed team owners directly, urging them to stop questioning coaches after match defeats. 

 

"Owners often approach coaches immediately after losses and ask why they lost the match. This question has no clear answer because cricket is a sport where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."

 

Several former and current cricketers attended the event, including Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. 

 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, global investors and commercial partners also joined the roadshow.