The 1st edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) proved successful despite problems as Pakistan decided to commercialize the game just like India. Through PSL, Pakistanis has something to invest for their own domestic players and grounds and the people can see their favorite players playing for their own leagues.
Earlier, Pakistani cricket fans were looking their players playing in foreign leagues but now they have their own league ‘PSL’. In the initial league, there were five teams representing main regions of the country including Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators. The cricketing culture was progressed by these leagues in their respective regions which also include the entry of formerly neglected area of Quetta in cricket.
In order to develop the league, more teams are required to accommodate more domestic players. According to reports, the third edition of PSL will include a 6th franchise and few of the possible candidates of this franchise are listed below.
Sialkot
Sialkot is a domestic giant after winning 6 T20 titles. Between 2005 and 2010, Sialkot Stallions remained undefeated by winning 5 consecutive titles under the captaincy of national player Shoaib Malik. The team currently has few emerging Pakistani players including Raza Hasan, Haris Sohail, Bilawal Bhatti and Usama Mir. In 2012, the team participated in the Champions League T20 in South Africa against other domestic champions. Sialkot also has a strong sports relationship due to manufacturing of quality sports goods since long. In case of being chosen, it will be the 2nd team from Punjab after Lahore.
FATA
The progressing speed of FATA in cricket is very rapid. Most of its players come to Peshawar to get better facilities to play cricket as they are lacking it in FATA. We can see few good domestic players from FATA region including Irfan Shah, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, M Irfan and Usman Shinwari. Currently, FATA is taking benefit from Peshawar Zalmi and there is a possibility that the region gets its own team in the future.
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is in interior Sindh region which is also neglected like FATA but it produced several good players in cricket. But due to prejudice of Karachi for other regions of the province, interior Sindh suffered badly. Hyderabad will represent interior Sindh if it becomes a franchise and this region has produced several good players while one among them is current player from Karachi ‘Sharjeel Khan’.
Multan
Multan produced several international players and the most famous among them is Inzamam ul Haq. Multan represents southern Punjab area which produced important national players like Sohaib Maqsood, Rahat Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Aamer Yamin. Multan is known for its culture and heritage which could earn it the status of the 6th franchise team in PSL.
Kashmir
A surprising option for the 6th franchise team is Kashmir which is backed by Najam Sethi and Javed Afridi, owner of Peshawar Zalmi. The region is not much known for producing famous cricketers as the two currently famous domestic players are Hasan Raza and Afaq Raheem. But this decision will be backed by public as a whole. This team can also represent Gilgit-Baltisan area of the country.
But the 6th team will increase interest in cricket no matter which area is selected for the next franchise.