Oil crisis forces PSL to get indoors, fans troll tournament as Petrol Shortage League

Pakistan Super League is being trolled by cricket fans after the league decided to trim down its operations. The reaction comes after PCB head Mohsin Naqvi announced that the league will held in only 2 cities this season. That too, behind closed doors.

A section of cricket fans has been heavily trolling the Pakistan Cricket Board after the management decided to severely curb its arrangements for the Pakistan Super League. The PCB, on Sunday, March 22, decided to trim this year's competition, reducing the number of venues from six to two amid the ongoing oil crisis.

Apart from cutting down the number of venues, the PSL has also decided to cancel the opening ceremony and hold matches behind closed doors in a bid to reduce expenses. Alongside the global oil crisis, the league has also been jolted by multiple player exits, with several players now signing as injury replacements in the Indian Premier League.

A section of fans found the situation hilarious and even dubbed the PSL as the “Petrol Shortage League,” mocking the tournament’s scaled-down arrangements.

The PSL is in direct competition with the Indian Premier League this year, as it was unable to go ahead in its original window due to the T20 World Cup 2026. Players such as Blessing Muzarabani and reportedly Dasun Shanaka have pulled out of the PSL to join the IPL as injury replacements.

Playing in the IPL offers significantly higher financial returns compared to the PSL, and from a player’s perspective, it is understandable why many are opting to chase those opportunities.

The developments around the PSL this season underline a deeper challenge that goes beyond just logistics or scheduling. While external factors such as the oil crisis have forced the PCB to take cost-cutting measures, the simultaneous player drain to the IPL has exposed the widening gap between the two leagues in terms of financial power and global pull.