'We treat cricket as...': Former Pakistan captain on why they are lagging behind India

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has highlighted the differing paths of his country and India in the cricketing world, especially focusing on how India has turned its cricket scene into a lucrative industry. Latif's comments come in the wake of India's undefeated 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, while Pakistan experienced an early exit in the group stages.
Latif pointed out the disparity between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), emphasizing that the IPL has become a global powerhouse. In comparison, the PSL has struggled to evolve.
"India, just like their film industry, developed a cricket industry. We treat cricket as a hobby that's why we couldn't turn it into a business. PSL is still there from where it had started. The highest salary cap is $1.40 lakh. Why can't they push it further? Why can't we have players like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins? Because we don't have the money so there's no business," Latif was quoted as saying by News18.

He further elaborated on India's strategic expansion in cricket, attributing their success partly to learning from foreign coaches and grassroots level development.
"It's not that India became a reckoning force in world cricket recently, after the World Cup. Go back to 2007, 2011, 2015. They have gained so much knowledge from the foreign coaches and at the same time, they are working at the grassroots level without being noticed. And then IPL came into play. And now, they have all the best minds with them. They have Ponting with DC, Hussey, and Bravo. But hum kya kar rahe hain," Latif added.

India's recent triumphs, including the T20 World Cup win and their runner-up finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup, underscore their dominance in white-ball cricket. In sharp contrast, Pakistan has found it challenging to leave a mark in major cricket tournaments recently.
Latif's remarks draw attention to the challenges that Pakistan cricket faces in creating a sustainable business model. He advocates for enhanced strategic planning to uplift the PSL and improve Pakistan's cricketing infrastructure.