Red-tapism delays Pak Major League Cricket on lines of IPL

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board’s ambitious plans of launching the Major League Cricket (MLC) on the lines of cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) has been delayed due to red-tapism.

A draft proposal to set up the MLC of cricket board in collaboration with a leading UAE-based multinational business group is still being reviewed by four Pakistani ministries - Sports, Law and Justice, Foreign Affairs and Finance.

The PCB sources claimed that their likely profit venture has got a clearance chit from ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, but the Law Ministry, concerning its role in the MLC, wants to know the precise nature of the PCB body.

Five teams will feature in the MCL to be played in Sharjah where Pakistani cricketers, besides players from other cricket-playing countries, would get a chance to feature in the lucrative Twety20 league, The Dawn reports.

PCB’s senior management has kept mum over the deal, which already had few reservations from the Federal Sports Ministry.

However, a source close to the development from PCB’s headquarters said that the federal government has all the right to evaluate the draft proposal, but a delay from the Ministry of Law may send a negative message to the equal partners of the venture, the Bukhatir Group.

“The PCB officials are eagerly waiting for the approval of the draft proposal from the Sports Ministry but the delay is now from the Law and Justice Division,” said the source.

The source added that the PCB had a strong follow-up with the Sports Ministry.

The final approval of the MLC proposal, source said, would be analysed and forwarded to the office of the President - Patron of the PCB by the Sports Ministry. (ANI)