Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana has called the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the number one league in the world, discrediting the IPL. He has also mentioned that the draft system followed by the PSL has set its current standard among global T20 leagues.
The constant conflict between the IPL and the PSL has been a matter of discussion on social media platforms. Not even a month ago, the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had talked about his vision to elevate the PSL to the No. 1 position among the world’s best T20 leagues.
The PSL has been developing over the last few years and has shown significant growth. He also advised several potential investors to take the risk, asserting that it is worth it since the league would be promising. They have also put the Multan Sultans under auction.
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Lahore Qalandars owner picks PSL as No. 1 league over the IPL
One of the franchise owners in the PSL, Lahore Qalandars’ owner Atif Rana, has mentioned that he feels the Pakistan Super League is the number one league in the world. He dared to discredit the IPL as the most renowned and competitive T20 league in the world.
“Why does PSL not have auctions like the IPL?” one of the Pakistani youngsters questioned Atif Rana in a talk show.
“The amount of cricketing talent we currently possess, and the competition we have, is the best among any global league around the world. Cricket-wise, the PSL is the number one league in the world,” Atif Rana replied.
“We are the best because of this draft system, which we follow. We have competitive teams, as you can see, the last few finals have been crunch matches that went up to the final over or the final ball of the game to decide a winner. So in my understanding, the draft system has increased the standard of the league,” he added.
“Only more money does not draw in bigger players,” Atif Rana takes a sharp jibe at the IPL
When asked if these are big players, do they not deserve to get an abundant amount of money for their contributions? He instantly replied, “It’s not about individuals or brands; it’s about the PSL. Be they players, fans, franchises or anyone, we are all part of the PSL, and together we contribute to the growth of the league.”
“Why should we go towards an auction? The money we give is still more than that of many other leagues in the world. The concept that people have speculated that the more you pay, the bigger players show interest towards the league—that is not the case,” Rana reasoned.
“Over the period of time, several renowned players have played with us. Rashid Khan, Harry Brook and Tim David all have played with us. Hence, I feel it’s not about pricing; it’s about the product, and PSL is a wonderful product that has its standards set with the drafts,” the Lahore Qalandars owner concluded.
LQ owner Atif Rana said, “PSL is the number one league in the world cricket, due to the draft system”. pic.twitter.com/WdJk4jG2Hm
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) January 17, 2026
Where did the PSL stand among the most valuable cricket leagues in 2025?
Brand value of teams, the purses of individual players, and the amount of money earned through broadcasting and telecasting the matches all contribute to setting 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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