PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf today told PTI that the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) will be played in March 2013 and a request has already been made to the chief patron of the board, President Asif Ali Zardari to allow a five-year tax exemption for the event.
"There is a lot of foreign and local investment involved in holding this event and I have already requested the President to allow us the tax exemption as the Pakistan League will create job opportunities and will be good for our economy and image," said Ashraf.
"We just need a two-week window even though the Indian Premier League will also start from first week of April. We have already started groundwork for the project," he added.
Ashraf returned from Dubai this morning after attending a series of meetings in connection with the PPL.
He said the PPL will feature five franchises consisting of 30 international players, with six each in every team.
"We are targeting the big names of international cricket because their presence will boost the PPL and we are preparing a budget of millions for this.
"The Sialkot sports industry is keen to buy a franchise, someone like Mian Mansha is also ready to have his own franchise. The local and expatriate business community in the UAE also wants in, so we are well prepared for the event," he said. (More)