Don't think anyone can compete with IPL: Aakash Chopra reacts to Ramiz Raja's 'misplaced judgment' of PSL value
India Today
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra played down Ramiz Raja's comments over Pakistan Super League's valuation and how it can match the Indian Premier League when it goes from the draft to the auction system.
Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders opener Aakash Chopra on Thursday played down Ramiz Raja's tall claim over the value of the Pakistan Super League and comparisons with the Indian Premier League, saying the market dynamics make the Indian T20 league peerless.
Aakash Chopra said not just the PSL but any cricket league in the world, including the Big Bash League, can't match up to IPL's riches, adding that the viewership in India is a huge plus for the cash-rich T20 league.
Chopra's comments come after Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said if PSL moves from the existing draft model to the auction model, the Pakistan T20 league will be on par with the IPL. Raja even hinted players will prefer PSL over IPL when the auction model comes into place.
The PSL, which was founded in 2016, is a 6-team league that works on the draft model where each team signs players in a draft in a different price range. On the other hand, players go under the hammer in the IPL auction mode, getting significantly more money than other leagues across the globe.
"The main driver of that financial economy is the PSL. If we take the PSL to auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in the IPL bracket. And then we'll see who goes to play the IPL over the PSL," Raja had told ESPNCricinfo.
Stressing that the auction model will make no difference to the value of the PSL, Aakash Chopra said the sale of broadcast rights for IPL gives it enormous financial backing.
"The price is decided based on how much money you get from the rights, at what price the teams are sold and then there is a total purse according to which you play. All these are interlinked, they are not separate. If someone sees them separately, he is going to get defeated," Chopra said in his YouTube channel.
