Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana has defamed IPL and called Pakistan Super League (PSL) the number one league in the world. He also mentioned that the draft system adopted by the PSL has set its current standard among global T20 leagues.
The constant clash between IPL and PSL remains a topic of discussion on social media platforms. Not even a month has passed since PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi talked about his vision of taking the PSL to the No. 1 spot among the best T20 leagues in the world.
PSL has been growing over the last few years and has shown significant growth. He advised many potential investors to take the risk and said it was worth it because the league would be promising. They have also auctioned the Sultans of Multan.
Lahore Qalandars owner picks PSL as No. 1 league over IPL
Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana, one of the franchise owners in the PSL, has mentioned that he feels the Pakistan Super League is the number one league in the world. He dared to discredit IPL as the most famous and competitive T20 league in the world.
“Why doesn’t PSL have auction like IPL?” One of the Pakistani youth asked a question to Atif Rana in a talk show.
Atif Rana responded, “The amount of cricket talent we currently have, and the competition we have, is the best of any global league around the world. The PSL is the number one league in the world in terms of cricket.”
He said, “We are the best because of this draft system that we follow. We have had competitive teams, as you can see, there have been decisive matches in the last few finals, which went till the last over or the last ball of the game to decide the winner. So in my understanding, the draft system has raised the standard of the league.”
Atif Rana took a sharp dig at the IPL, saying, “Big players don’t just get more money.”
When he was asked that these are big players, don’t they deserve to get huge amount of money for their contribution? He immediately responded, “It’s not about individuals or brands; it’s about the PSL. Be they players, fans, franchises or whoever, we are all part of the PSL, and together we contribute to the growth of the league.”
Rana argued, “Why should we go towards an auction? The money we pay is still higher than many other leagues in the world. People have speculated that the more you pay, the more the big players will show interest in the league – that is not the case.”
“Over time, many famous players have played with us. Rashid Khan, Harry Brook and Tim David have all played with us. So, I think it is not about pricing; it is about the product, and the PSL is an amazing product whose standards are set with the draft,” concluded the Lahore Qalandars owner.
“The PSL is the number one league in world cricket because of the draft system,” said LQ owner Atif Rana. pic.twitter.com/WdJk4jG2Hm
– Sherry. (@CallMeSheri1_) 17 January 2026
Where does PSL stand among the most valuable cricket leagues in 2025?
The brand value of the teams, the purses of individual players and the amount of money earned through the broadcast of matches all contribute to determining the overall value of any global T20 league.
Here are the top 10 most valuable leagues in the world:
1. Indian Premier League (IPL) – $10.9 billion
2. International League T20 (ILT20) – $15 million
3. SA20 – $12.5 million
4. Big Bash League (BBL) – $10 million
5. The Hundred – $9 million
6. Major League Cricket (MLC) – $6.9 million
7. Pakistan Super League (PSL) – $5.7 million
8. Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) – $4.8 million
9. Caribbean Premier League (CPL) – $4.6 million
10. Lanka Premier League (LPL) – $3.1 million
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