Najam Sethi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s management committee, asserted that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has outperformed the Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of digital ratings.
Najam Sethi claimed that the PSL had a digital rating of more than 150 million while the cash-rich IPL had a rating of 130 million during a press conference prior to the championship game.
PSL Digital Platform Ratings
“Let’s talk about digital. PSL was only at the half stage, so I asked about our digital rating. Najam Sethi show used to have a 0.5 rating on TV, whereas PSL is getting a rating of more than 11. So, it would be 18 or 20, when it completes,” he said.
“Over 150 million people watched it digitally. It is not a small thing. At the same stage, IPL’s digital rating was 130 million and PSL’s is more than 150 million. So this is a great success for Pakistan,” he added.
Najam Sethi also provided insight into how Pakistan’s economic situation has improved as a result of the PSL.
“PSL has contributed in keeping the country’s economic wheel moving as it created job opportunities and helped tourism, hotel industry, airlines, and road travelling business grow,” he said. “We have paid Rs700 million in taxes to the federal government, Rs500 million in sales taxes, and another Rs500 million in provincial taxes.”
It should be noted that Lahore Qalandars, who defeated Multan Sultans by one run in the thrilling final, became the first team to win consecutive PSL championships on Saturday.
He was forced to perform a run out at the bowler’s end when Multan’s Khushdil Shah attempted to make a third run to force a super over.
Before a crowded 25,000-person Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Qalandars had scored 200-6 in their 20 overs, and Sultans had finished on 199-8.
Last year’s championship game saw Qalandars also triumph over Sultans.
After scoring a quick 44 runs without being out, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-51. As Sultans quickly reached 101-1 in 10 overs, he gave up 34 runs in his first two overs. Rilee Rossouw (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (34) added 64 runs for the second wicket.
Rossouw only needed 32 balls to smash seven fours and two sixes.
However, Shaheen came back for a second spell and ejected Usama Mir, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, 19, and Anwar Ali one 1 run only.
Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi took 22 from Haris Rauf’s 19th over but failed to get 13 in the final over with 35 needed in the final two overs.
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