Ashraf is doing all he can to ensure that the Pakistan Premier League takes place

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has announced that several international players are starting to show some interest in the proposed Pakistan Premier League.

Ashraf stated that players would be interested in playing if they were paid enough and assured of their safety at all times.

He was quoted by The Daily Times as saying: “The positive thing is that we have already held discussions with some international players and they have shown willingness to come and play in our league. The only thing they want is good money and financial guarantee for coming to Pakistan.”

Ashraf has been asking other cricket boards to play matches in Pakistan for a while now, but with no takers due to the attack on the Sri Lanka team by gunmen in 2009, he is hoping the Pakistan Premier League will change their minds.

“But it appears that the boards will not take the initiative and we will have to first hold the Premier League and get international players to change the perception of playing in Pakistan,” he said.

The PCB chairman noted that they needed to pay players well in order attract the best of the best, and went on to say that if they failed to do so, then lots of international superstars would start to withdraw from playing the in the tournament.

“We are working on the proposed league with interested sponsors but so far we have offered no franchises for sale to anyone,” he said.