'Bacchey bade ho jate hain': Wasim Akram takes dig at IPL duration

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricket great Wasim Akram — who has been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ecosystem as both a coach and commentator — stirred debate after criticising the duration of the IPL while speaking at a promotional event for the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Akram praised the PSL’s shorter format and suggested longer leagues tend to become monotonous.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!He argued that the PSL’s duration of around 34–35 days makes it more appealing to overseas players compared to tournaments that run for months.

The IPL, now a 10-team competition, traditionally stretches over two months. The 2024 season spanned 65 days, while the 2025 edition — shortened due to the Pahalgam terror attack — ran from March 22 to June 3."The best thing about the league is that it is played for only about 34-35 days, maybe a little more next year.

It's not like three months, like the other league. Bacchey bade ho jate hain, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti. Foreign players, when they come to Pakistan, prefer to be here for 35-40 days. More than that - two-and-a-half to three months - is a bit too long for everyone. Even I get bored," Akram remarked.He also drew comparisons with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), claiming the PSL’s competitive edge and bowling depth set it apart.

"Prime example is the BBL. They started off with two-and-a-half months. They realised after four or five years it wasn't working. Now their duration is about 40 days. That's it. That's the beauty of the PSL. Of course, the talent. Everybody overseas, when I talk to them, they talk about bowling in the IPL and other leagues. They say the PSL, as far as talent is concerned, is definitely No. 1 because we have quality, not quantity," he added.Akram’s remarks triggered strong reactions online, with many cricket fans criticising his comparison and timing, particularly given his long-standing IPL association.

At the same event, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed big ambitions, saying: "My vision is to make the PSL the number one league in the world."