New blow for Pakistan Super League as Butt quits over delays

Salman Sarwar Butt resigned as the competition's managing director as new doubts are cast over the competition's future - and its efforts in returning international cricket to Pakistan.

Action from the Indian Premier League, which the Pakistan Super League looked to emulate.
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Pakistan's proposed Twenty20 Super League has been plunged into further chaos after the head of the competition resigned last night.

Salman Sarwar Butt, the Pakistan Super League's managing director, quit the troubled competition - which been due to start next month.

His departure casts further doubt on the league's return, with the Pakistan Cricket Board having given no indication when the postponed competition would go ahead.

""As the league is now most likely to be held after April, I will not be available to work further on this first edition," Butt said in a statement.

"This has been a difficult decision to make, but my personal and professional commitments would preclude me from carrying on."

Javid Miandad, the former national captain and coach, has been appointed as acting MD.

The PCB claimed it had signed up more than 80 foreign players for the competition, which had been touted as paving the way to restore international cricket to the country.

Modelled on the hugely successful Indian Premier League, the five team league would see 23 matches being played over the span of a fortnight, with the PCB claiming it would be worth more than $100 million (Dh367m) over five years.

Rashid Latif, the former international captain, said the indefinite postponement of the league was a major blow to efforts to revive international cricket.

"Talking of selling a team for $2 million in our security situation was not viable and not a reality," he said.

Pakistan has not hosted a test-playing side since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked four years ago, with games being played in the UAE since then.