The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a significant financial boost for six high-profile foreign players ahead of the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
According to local and foreign sources, the board will pay an additional $100,000 to each of these elite players for making themselves available for the tournament.
This extra payment comes from a special fund set up by the PCB specifically for PSL, which has now swelled to a total of $1 million.
The fund was created as part of an agreement to pay top-tier players when the central pool’s net broadcast revenue reaches Rs. 3 billion.
A PCB official confirmed to an international media outlet that the fund would help cover salaries for overseas players who have signed contracts for the PSL 2025 edition.
The maximum base salary for foreign players in the PSL draft was initially set at $200,000 per player which will be increased for this year’s edition.
David Warner, a marquee signing by the Karachi Kings, is set to earn $300,000 for his participation in the PSL. Of this amount, the PCB will contribute $100,000 from the special fund.
This marks the first time that the PSL will offer such a financial package for its foreign players, underlining the board’s commitment to attracting top talent.
A few years ago, the PSL Governing Council decided that, when the central revenue pool’s net broadcast revenue hit Rs. 3 billion, $500,000 would be earmarked annually to support elite player salaries. Last year, the fund remained unused, and as a result, the amount has now increased to $1 million.
Among the foreign players joining the PSL 2025 are several names who went unsold during the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Nahid Rana, Liton Das, Michael Bracewell, Russie van der Dussen, and Corbin Bosch are among those who will play in the 10th edition of the PSL.
This year’s PSL will coincide with the IPL, with both leagues running during overlapping windows. The PSL is scheduled from April 17 to May 22, while the IPL will run from March 21 until the end of May.
This overlap is expected to result in a clash between the two major leagues in their latter stages, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition.
With growing financial backing and top-tier players now signing on for larger fees, the PSL continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the premier T20 leagues in the world.
The PCB’s efforts to lure high-profile talent with lucrative deals are set to increase PSL’s global standing, while also ensuring that Pakistani cricket benefits from the international exposure these players bring.