Pakistan to launch its franchised Twenty20 in 2008

The Pakistan Cricket Board will launch its franchised version of the Champions League Twenty20 in 2008, according to Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the board.

The Pakistan Premier League (PPL), as it will be called, will consist of six franchised teams belonging to corporate groups who have shown interest in it and will be launched immediately after the Champions Trophy that is scheduled to take place in the country in September 2008.

"PPL is part of the International Champions League which is approved by the ICC and will be run by five boards," Ashraf said. "Each of the six teams will feature four foreign players, four local players of the region and Under-21 players whose services can be obtained for a fees. The six teams will also be franchised by corporates."

Ashraf dismissed links that the league was being formed to counter the threats posed by the Indian Cricket League (ICL) that has picked up the Pakistani quartet of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzak. He was hopeful that PPL would attract these players and would allow them to associate themselves with the new league which is approved by all the national cricket boards.

"At the moment I invite all the players, those who have joined the ICL and those who have not, to join the Premier League as it offers a lot of benefits. I am hopeful that the rebel players will come back keeping in view the national interests."

The Twenty20 Champions League is an international tournament featuring the best teams of the domestic Twenty20 tournaments in various nations and will be run by the cricket boards of India, Australia, South Africa, and England.