Mohsin Naqvi's PCB Issues Official Statement On Players Leaving PSL For IPL

Mohsin Naqvi issues statement on players leaving PSL for IPL [Source: X]

In a significant development, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi issued an official statement regarding players leaving the PSL to participate in the IPL 2026. 

The PCB chairman conducted a press conference on Sunday afternoon, revealing that the PSL 2026 would be played behind closed doors. 

He also stated that the matches would be held across only two venues- Karachi and Lahore- due to the ongoing fuel crisis in the country. Additionally, Mohsin Naqvi also made a major statement about the players who recently left the PSL to be part of the IPL. 

Mohsin Naqvi's PCB threatens legal action on players who left PSL for IPL

The PSL 2026 is all set to commence on March 26, with the IPL 2026 beginning two days later on the 28th of the month. 

Given that several overseas players have made themselves partially or fully unavailable for this year's IPL, the franchises are actively seeking suitable replacements. 

The lack of first-choice players has opened the doors for the cricketers, who initially went unsold, to feature in the IPL 2026. 

In fact, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani and Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka are ready to feature in the competition, having bagged lucrative IPL contracts. Muzarabani has joined KKR, while Shanaka has been signed by Rajasthan Royals as Sam Curran's replacement. 

Several other players- Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Ottneil Baartman and Gudakesh Motie have also pulled out from this year's PSL. However, it's unclear whether these cricketers have been signed by the IPL franchises for the 2026 season. 

Also read: Steve Smith Takes A Drastic Step Days Before PSL 2026

Given that these two players sacrificed their PSL contracts to play in the IPL, their decision didn't go well with the PCB. 

As a result, Mohsin Naqvi has announced that the Pakistan board would take legal action against such cricketers who have ditched their PSL franchises to feature in the IPL 2026. 

""We will take action against those players according to the rules. There was a case last year too [referring to Corbin Bosch, who was banned from the PSL for one year], and the same thing will happen this time," Mohsin Naqvi told reporters, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. 

When PCB banned Corbin Bosch for leaving PSL for IPL

South Africa's fast-bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch was signed by Peshawar Zalmi for the 2025 season of the Pakistan Super League. 

However, he pulled out of the Pakistani T20 league when the Mumbai Indians approached him to sign him as a replacement for Lizaad Williams. 

Following Corbin Bosch's withdrawal, the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB handed him a one-year ban from the PSL. 

So, although the Pakistani board hasn't decided the exact punishment for the players leaving the T20 league, it's speculated that the likes of Muzarabani and Shanaka could be barred from registering for the PSL auction. 

PSL 2026 opener and final match to be played in Lahore

The 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League begins on March 26, with Lahore Qalandars taking on the Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

While the modified PSL 2026 venues will be amended, the final is all likely to be played in Lahore on May 3. 

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