BPL vs PSL League Comparison

Both Pakistan Super League (BPL) and Bangladesh Premier League (PSL) are franchise-based professional T20 leagues run by the cricket boards of the respective countries. Both leagues are similar in many ways. We will look at similarities as well as differences in our comparison of the two.

Which Is More Popular, BPL or PSL?

Popularity

Both leagues are popular in their host countries as well as across the world as they attract overseas players from various cricket-playing nations.

Double Round-Robin League Formats

The teams in both PSL and BPL compete within a double round-robin league format. While the PSL has six teams in the fray, the BPL has seven. The teams in both leagues are named after cities in the respective countries. For instance, the PSL has Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators. Similarly, the teams in the BPL are known by the names of Chattogram Challengers, Cumilla Warriors, Dhaka Platoon, Khulna Tigers, Rangpur Rangers, Rajshahi Royals and Sylhet Thunder.

Qualifying Teams for Playoffs

In both leagues, the teams finishing in the top four positions of the points table qualify for the playoffs. In the playoffs, the top two teams play a qualifier, the winner of which enters the final. The 3^rd and 4^th-ranked teams play an eliminator; the winner plays against the loser of the first qualifier to decide the other finalist.

Draft System

In both leagues, players are assigned to teams by employing a draft system. A franchise may choose new players during an annual draft. Players from one season can be retained for the next one. A franchise can also choose to sign players outside of the draft or trade them with other franchises.

Prize Money

Regarding prize money, the BPL is a little ahead of the PSL. While the PSL awards about US$ 1 million in prize money, the BPL‘s figure is closer to US$1.5 million.

Quality of Cricketp>This is probably the main difference between the leagues. While there’s no denying the international character of the two leagues both of which attract overseas players, the PSL finds favour with a larger pool of overseas players, including those who represent such major international teams as Australia, England and South Africa.

Consider the following list of international players who featured in the BPL in the latest 2020-21 season, excluding players from Pakistan to allow for a proper comparison: Rilee Rossouw, Robbie Frylinck, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Thisara Perera, Laurie Evans, Luis Reece, Ravi Bopara, H Zazai, Md Nabi, Shai Hope, Lewis Gregory, Cameron Delport, Kusal Perera, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Dawid Malan, Dashun Shanaka, Sherfane Rutherford, Shaffiullah Shafaq, Naveen ul Haq, Jonathan Charles, Jeewan Mendis, Chris Gayle, Keshrick Williams, Avishka Fernando, Rayad Emerit, Ryan Burl.

Players on this list who currently represent their countries internationally are mainly from Sri Lanka, West Indies and Afghanistan, with English batsman Dawid Malan the lone exception. By contrast, the PSL attracts several active international players from England, Australia and South Africa.

Conclusion

In our PSL vs BPL League Comparison, we find that both leagues are popular in their host countries. However, the PSL is a little more popular internationally as it attracts many active international players from such major international teams as England, Australia and South Africa.