"My personal opinion is that this is a circus and not good for cricket. It will demean the game of cricket," says former PCB chairman.?File photo

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board's former chairman Shahryar Khan has termed the T-10 league a 'circus', saying the PCB should not have supported the idea of having this league.

Speaking on Geo Super program 'Bolain Kia Baat Hai' on Monday evening, the former chairman added that PCB shouldn't have compromised on the sanctity of cricket for commercial temptation.

"My personal opinion is that this is a circus and not good for cricket. It will demean the game of cricket," Shahryar said.

"Not good to give importance to commercial factors at the cost of cricket. They pay US$400,000 or a million dollars, T-10 is wrong in principle and we shouldn't have supported it," he added.

What made the PCB change its mind on the T-Ten league?

PCB ignoring apprehensions by PSL franchises, confession of taking $400,000 fee raises several questions

The Pakistan Cricket Board in a recent statement agreed that it charged a fee of US$400,000 for giving NOC to its contracted players for the tournament which starts in Sharjah on December 14.

The former PCB head also added that it is wrong to say that disallowing players would have affected our terms with ECB because they earn so much from PCB.

Shahryar Khan also criticised the ICC for not doing enough for protection of cricket's purity.

"How long you will allow cricket to be degraded? You need to protect the sanctity and purity of cricket. This is our responsibility because commercialism has already damaged the essence of the game too much. You shouldn't agree with every commercial temptation," he said.

PCB drags in T20 Global League to defend T-Ten League

PCB?s statement of naming three different franchises may also create bitterness among PSL franchise owners

He also agreed with the observation that the T-10 league can also damage Pakistan's own product, the Pakistan Super League.

"I believe that this will surely damage the PSL franchises. PCB must not have ignored their apprehension. PSL should be our priority," he stated.