Sam Billings is currently plying his trade in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the Lahore Qalandars. He went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 10th edition of the PSL is running parallel with the IPL 2025. Pakistan and India have always been fierce competitors in the sporting world and this rivalry stems from the socio-political tension between the two neighbouring countries. While IPL is widely renowned as the most popular T20 league in the world, with the top stars in world cricket featuring in it, the same cannot be said for the other similar leagues in different countries.
No other franchise T20 league is more financially profitable than the IPL. The viewership numbers are staggering and are growing every year. However, Pakistani fans often compare PSL with the IPL. Recently, Billings was asked by a Pakistani reporter during a press conference to compare the two leagues. The England wicketkeeper-batter took a dig at the reporter, asking him whether he wanted him to say something silly. Billings picked IPL as the best T20 league in the world and said that the leagues in other countries are trying hard to match the level.
“You want me to say something silly? It’s hard to look past the IPL as the premier competition in the world, it’s very obvious, every other competition is just behind, you know in England we are trying to do the same like PSL as the second best competition in world, Big Bash too trying to do the same,” Billings told the reporter.
David Warner shuts down Indian fan hatred question over PSL stint
Interestingly, this is not the first time a Pakistani reporter tried to stir up a controversy by dragging India’s name in a question to a cricketer. Recently, Karachi Kings’ captain David Warner was asked about his views following the hatred he received from the Indian fans after deciding to play in the PSL. The former Australian opener brushed the question aside, saying that he wasn’t aware of any such reaction from the cricket enthusiasts in India.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it. From my perspective, I want to play cricket. There’s an opportunity to come to PSL. My international calendar didn’t allow me to come to PSL due to the timing. Now, I want to compete, captain the Karachi Kings, and hopefully we are able to win the trophy,” Warner said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
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