Pakistan's out-of-favour pacer Hasan Ali has made a bizarre claim ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. Ali said that it is upto the players to deliver and the viewers will flock to watch the PSL instead of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Over the years, PSL has stuck to the February-March window but the country's premier T20 competition had to be shifted due to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“Fans watch the tournament where there's good cricket with entertainment. If we play well in the PSL, viewers will leave the IPL to watch us,” Hasan said, speaking to reporters ahead of the PSL 10 opener, as quoted by Geo News.
However, Ali admits that the viewership of PSL may take a hit due to Pakistan national team's lack of wins, especially the early exit from Champions Trophy 2025.
“When the national team doesn't perform well, it impacts franchise leagues like the PSL. But when Pakistan do well, the PSL's graph also rises," he said.
Hasan Ali defends young Pakistan side
After comprehensive series loss on New Zealand soil, including the ODI series whitewash, Ali said that players know they need to improve but need to be given a long rope.
“The current results aren't great, but we have fresh faces in the team and also in management who need time. The players know where they went wrong and where to improve,” he further added.
Hasan Ali sets sight on all-time PSL record
In the upcoming season, he will play under the captain of David Warner at Karachi Kings. The 30-year-old pacer has a chance to break all-time PSL record for most wickets. The record belongs to former Peshawar Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz with 113 wickets from 88 games. Ali needs four more wickets to dethrone Riaz. He has 108 wickets from 82 games at an average of 22.96, including four four-wicket hauls.
Warner-led Karachi Kings will start their PSL 2025 campaign at their homeground against Mohammad Rizwan's Multan Sultans. In the previous edition, Karachi Kings finished at the bottom of the points table with six losses from 10 games.