Australian leg-spin bowler Adam Zampa announced he will not participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The decision marks a significant shift for one of the world's top white-ball spinners, as the IPL is widely considered the most lucrative T20 tournament globally. Zampa's choice to prioritize the PSL over the Indian circuit suggests a changing valuation of league opportunities among elite overseas players.
Zampa detailed his reasoning during an interview for an ARY News podcast. He said the IPL does not attract the kind of money he is looking for [1]. The bowler said his financial expectations were not met by the offers available to him for the upcoming season.
According to reports, Sunrisers Hyderabad released Zampa for INR 2.60 crore during the 2026 IPL mini-auction [2]. Following this release, Zampa said he decided to focus on the PSL instead [2].
Zampa has already seen success in the Pakistan-based league. In a match for the Karachi Kings against the Lahore Qalandars, he recorded bowling figures of two wickets for 11 runs in four overs [3]. He said he prefers the environment, and the specific opportunities provided within the PSL framework [4].
While Zampa focused on the financial package, other perspectives on the IPL's appeal have surfaced. One unnamed PSL overseas star said the IPL is more of a Bollywood movie than cricket [5]. This suggests that some international players find the commercial spectacle of the Indian league distracting from the sport itself.
Zampa's move comes amid a crowded global T20 calendar where players must increasingly choose between competing leagues. By opting for the PSL, the Australian bowler is prioritizing a different competitive atmosphere and a financial arrangement that aligns with his goals [4].
“"I am not playing IPL 2026 because it doesn’t attract the kind of money that I am looking for."”
Zampa's decision highlights a growing trend where elite cricketers weigh the high-pressure, high-visibility environment of the IPL against the stability or specific financial terms of other regional leagues. While the IPL generally offers the highest salaries, the release of a top-tier bowler for INR 2.60 crore indicates that not all star players are guaranteed the massive payouts associated with the league's top bracket, making alternative leagues like the PSL more competitive as viable career choices.
