Legendary Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan and team-mate Aqib Javed share a light moment in this file photo.
Cricket World Cup star Aqib Javed said the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has the potential to transform the development of the game in a country where the sport is followed by more than 200 million people.
Javed, one of captain Imran Khan's key fast bowlers during Pakistan's historic 1992 World Cup win, predicted the PSL brand is set to grow manifold in the coming years.
"PSL is a lifeline to develop the game in Pakistan," Javed said of the lucrative T20 league that completed its second edition with a final in Lahore in March.
"Just wait for at least two more years and you will see how PSL establishes it's brand around the world," the Lahore Qalandars coach explained. Qalandars are one of five franchises that feature in the PSL.
"The foreign players who played this season, ply their trade in other leagues also and they have told me that there's no T20 league more competitive than PSL," Javed said in a TV interview broadcast in Pakistan.
The former UAE national team coach said PSL will follow the IPL lead in taking root as a global brand.
"You see IPL is now into its 10th year. I remember many years ago Kapil Dev and Madan Lal talking during a TV show that the T20 format would spoil the game of cricket," Javed recalled.
"But look at the game now. The launch of the IPL and the subsequent editions have transformed the Indian sports industry which has gone professional," he added.
"The day this league comes to Pakistan, that day PSL will be the second biggest T20 league in the world.
"You saw how crazy the fans were to watch the PSL final. If we had the capacity to hold more fans (in the stadium), we would have even got 200,000 fans to watch the final. What has happened is that private entities have changed things in every way," Javed said.
Javed, a one-time bowling partner of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, said he worked hard to get qualified as a licenced cricket coach.
"I became an international player by chance, but to be a coach, I had to work for 6 to 7 years," Javed said.
"When I first became a coach, I used to get Rs 85,000 a year from the PCB (laughs). Now there is a lot of money. There are lot of offers for coaches. I worked hard as I tried to be a qualified coach.
"It was like studying. When you are studying, you are not earning but getting yourself ready for a quality job. It was the same with me," Javed said.
"Now look at the Pakistan national team coach he perhaps makes Rs 3 million a month. The PSL franchise coaches also make around Rs 1 million to Rs1.5 million," he said.
Javed said PSL would do well to safeguard its interests by keeping the game clear off the bookies.
"The challenge is there for PSL to safeguard its interests from potential fixing from bookies. When T20 leagues came into vogue, it was easy for bookies to lure players (for foul-play) since it was deemed that the players weren't exactly selling their country's name," Javed said.
"But then the players also embraced absolute professionalism and they started to get paid really well. Even now an IPL edition can get certain players more than $ 2 million (a season). The players saw that if they can play a few leagues around the world in one season, they could earn a lot by fair means," he said.
Javed said Pakistan cricket legend Imran Khan was the man who shaped his career.
"The one player who made tremendous impact in Pakistan cricket was Imran Khan. As far as I know him, he can do things that no other individual can," Javed said.
"He has been so consistent in what he says, that means he can't lose. He has tremendous levels of focus. He has clarity. Nobody puts more effort than him. The best captain Pakistan ever had was Imran Khan. Not only he changed me as a player, he changed our lives too. He had a great impact on our lives," Javed said.
"I was lucky that Imran Khan was the captain when I started out. He would own every team he captained. He would back talent once he saw a good player. From playing street cricket one day, I was bowling to Sir Viv Richards (in Australia in the 1988-89 season) in a matter of a few weeks. When I was bowling, Imran said 'bowl bouncers to Richards'.
"I couldn't believe how he gave me confidence. Under Imran, I changed as a cricketer and as a human being. I was never afraid ever. I have seen enough highs and lows to know there's nothing to be afraid of," he added.
