Wasim Akram calls IPL boring, hails PSL

The former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram, who has long been part of the IPL setup as a mentor and commentator, sparked a controversy with his views on the league’s duration. At a PSL promotional event, he hailed the tournament’s shorter window and hinted that overly stretched competitions may gradually lose their engagement over time.

The Indian Premier League is now a 10-team affair and typically runs for around eight weeks. The duration of the 2024 season was 65 days. On the other hand, IPL 2025 started on March 22 and finsihed on June 3.

“The best thing about the league is it’s wrapped up in 34–35 days, maybe a touch longer from next year. It’s not a three-month marathon like the other one, Bacchey bade ho jate hain, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti. Overseas players also prefer Pakistan because it’s a 35–40 day window. Anything like two and a half to three months is simply too long for everyone, even I start getting bored,” Akram said.

Drawing a parallel with the BBL, he said that the PSL separates itself through its fierce match competitiveness and superior bowling talent.

“Take the BBL, for instance. It began as a two-and-a-half-month tournament, but after four or five years they realised it wasn’t clicking. Now it’s down to roughly 40 days, and that’s it. That’s what makes the PSL special. Yes, there’s talent too. Whenever I speak to overseas players, they discuss bowling in the IPL and other leagues, but they say the PSL is No. 1 for talent because we focus on quality, not quantity,” he added.

Akram’s comments sparked a wave of responses on social media, with several fans questioning both the comparison and the timing, especially considering his long involvement with the IPL.