The upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League could be jeopardized "due to paucity of funds since as many as five out of the total six franchises have failed to clear their dues" with the Pakistan Cricket Board "despite the expiry of the given deadline" of November 15, 2017, according to Mohammad Yaqoob of DAWN. The PCB is reportedly facing a "huge financial deficit" of $5M-$6M required to complete the arrangements for hosting the event in the UAE and Pakistan from Feb. 22-March 25. Sources said that a high-level meeting on the issue was held at the PCB’s offices on Friday, "where measures to deal with the crisis and chalking out a new strategy to overcome the financial crunch were discussed as the time is running out fast." Sources said that the PCB "has a legal option to take over all the defaulting franchises and to sell them again through a new bidding process" in the next few weeks in case the owners "continue to delay the clearance of their dues." However, sources added that "such a step will be the last resort for the PCB" (DAWN, 1/20).
