HBL PSL environment is great: Sir Viv Richards

Sir Viv Richards, the master blaster West Indian batter of the past, acknowledged the status of Indian Premier League (IPL) as the biggest in the world but said he is most comfortable in the HBL Pakistan Super League due to its great environment.

The 73-year-old, known for his aggressive batting before the Twenty20 invention, has been working as mentor and great inspiration for Quetta Gladiators franchise in the Pakistan Super League since its inception.

Viv said there is no doubt IPL is the biggest. "I have spent most of the time in the PSL but I acknowledge that the IPL is the biggest. There are so many leagues and a lot of Pakistan players themselves go and play these leagues," Viv told Telecomsia.net in an exclusive interview.

"There are top players from around the world in the IPL and together with the local talent they come up with high quality cricket. "

The former West Indian captain played 121 Tests and 187 one-day internationals and was part of his team's first two ODI World Cup wins in 1975.

In the days when batting was not as hard hitting as it is now, Viv had a strike rate of 90.20 in ODIs.

He visualises how he would have played in the current times, with batters needed to hit it out from the word go. "I think I would have been too powerful with a modern bat and would have found this format very tempting. I used to love dominating the bowling and this format would have suited my style."

Viv admitted the white-ball formats are more inclined towards batters. "Yes, white-ball cricket, ODIs or T20I cricket are so tilted towards the batters and with two balls in ODIs bowlers are at a disadvantage. But the crowd comes to watch batters and shots going out of the ground.

Viv said he loved to be in the Quetta Gladiators dug out. "Ten years ago I first met the owner and the family and the support staff and found it a comfortable place. Ten years later, it is as exciting and as comfortable as on day one.

"The PSL has been a comfortable league for me. The environment is great and we have seen the good times and bad times together."

Viv said Quetta was gaining momentum with each match. "They are trying their best to compete. The most important thing for us is to concentrate on what we are capable of. "

Viv said the ultimate goal is to win the title. "The last few years we have been down in terms of our competitive nature and that's what we want to regain. As long as we compete and compete well, that to me is the evidence that you need to hope to win and see ourselves in the final and win the title."

Click here to read article