The debate surrounding the greatest T20 league in the world has been raging on since the popularity of franchise competitions skyrocketed in the past decade. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has done its part to settle it by indexing data from the biggest leagues around the globe, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and several others.
After their analysis, Pakistan’s flagship cricket tournament, the PSL, has been crowned the second most entertaining men’s franchise competition globally, narrowly missing out on the top spot to the IPL, the undisputed king.
The study, carried out in partnership with cricket analytics firm CricViz, assessed the entertainment value of major short-format leagues including the IPL, PSL, South Africa’s SA20, Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), UAE’s ILT20, and The Hundred in England. A range of metrics, including the average number of sixes per game, dot-ball percentage, the impact of home advantage, the style of bowling taking the wickets, and how many games went down to the last over or even the last ball, were also taken into account.
However, the BBC did issue an advisory that the data used was fairly recent, beginning with the 2021 seasons for all the leagues.
The findings placed the PSL in elite company across several metrics. The PSL recorded the highest average first-innings total of any competition at 180 runs per match, even edging past the IPL’s 179. When it came to nail-biting finishes, 27.5% of PSL matches were decided in the final over — again, second only to the IPL’s 28.9%.
Boundary count was another highlight, with the PSL ranking second for the average number of fours and sixes per game. In terms of player pedigree, the league’s starting XIs averaged 351 international caps — the second-highest tally, only behind the ILT20’s 423, a figure boosted by its greater quota for overseas players.
On the BBC Sport “Entertainment Index” — which combined all these measures into a single score out of five — the IPL topped the charts with 4.53, while the PSL claimed a strong 3.90 to secure second place. The ILT20 (2.44) was third, followed by The Hundred, CPL, and SA20, with the BBL finishing last.
Best T20 League’s Standings:
| Rank | League | Index Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IPL | 4.53 |
| 2 | PSL | 3.90 |
| 3 | ILT20 | 2.44 |
| 4 | The Hundred | 1.97 |
| 5 | CPL | 1.60 |
| 6 | SA20 | 1.23 |
| 7 | BBL | 1.04 |
The findings, subjective as they may be, come as welcome news for PSL fans. Since its launch in 2016, the league has transformed from a fledgling tournament to one of the most sought-after events in world cricket. Known for its electrifying contests, consistent high scores, and blend of global stars with rising Pakistani talent, the league has built a loyal following both at home and abroad.
The PSL just marked 10 successful editions this year and plans to go even bigger starting from PSL 11, which should only increase its standing in the coming years.
The BBC report underlined that the PSL’s mix of quality cricket, big hitting, and competitive edge ensures it remains one of the most thrilling spectacles in the sport — a status it continues to strengthen season after season.