Karachi, Oct. 23 (ANI): Encouraged by the successful staging of the Twenty20 exhibition matches during the weekend which were organised by Sindh Sports Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now making all-out efforts to hold the inaugural Pakistan Premier League (PPL).
The PPL is being seen as another step towards the revival of international cricket in the country and efforts are being made to make the event possible in March 2013, reports The Express Tribune.
According to sources, several big names have been invited and at least one Twenty20 'super star' is being targeted for each of the five teams competing in the tournament. The PCB is also aiming to invite a total of 30 international players for the league."The committee (led by PCB Director General Javed Miandad) is targeting five super stars with at least one for each team," the source said.
"This category comprises current super stars of international cricket. We have already extended our invitation to several such players and are in talks with them. Half of them have been approached directly, while others were contacted through their agents," he added.
The official, however, refrained from disclosing names.
"But these players also include members of the West Indies team that won the World Twenty20 recently. We are hopeful that big stars will come as security concerns is not an issue for them. It all depends on how much money can be offered to the participating players and their availability in the given period," he added.
Cricket organiser Badar Rafae who roped in the International World XI players for the exhibition matches, and is said to be looking at the operations side of the PPL, is also likely to meet the International Cricket Council this month to discuss the formalities of holding the league in the country.
"The PPL plan is not in the air anymore and it appears certain that the PCB is working on it on a priority basis to make it happen," Rafae said. (ANI)