Nadeem Omar is a renowned Pakistani businessman, and it wouldn’t be wrong to introduce him through his strong connection with Pakistan cricket. Although people today mostly recognize him as the owner of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators, it is equally true that his name has consistently remained prominent in the development and support of sports in Pakistan.

While he has held responsibilities in the Karachi City Cricket Association, today’s discussion is centered solely around Nadeem Omar in the context of the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League.

Although Quetta Gladiators reached the finals in the first two seasons of the PSL, Nadeem Omar believes that the team which played in the final of PSL 2025 was more balanced and stronger than the one that won the title in 2019 under the captaincy of wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. He stated that while they were deeply disappointed by the loss to Lahore Qalandars in the final, this is part of the game’s philosophy and something they accept.

He also believes that the continuity of the event was disrupted due to the Pakistan-India war, but even after that, the matches remained exciting and competitive. Nadeem Omar said that he was present in the dugout this time as a senior manager, motivating the players alongside Quetta’s mentor Sir Vivian Richards. He praised the contributions of coach Moin Khan, director Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Azam Khan, noting that everyone cared for the team like a family and celebrated even the small moments.

Nadeem Omar chuckled at those who question the owner’s presence in the dugout, saying:

“Now people will tell us what T20 cricket is? That’s amazing. We don’t need to prove to anyone that we’ve not only played T20 cricket in Pakistan but have also greatly promoted it. The world knows that the most T20 cricket in Pakistan happens in Karachi. So this debate about whether an owner should be in the dugout is both surprising and disappointing. I simply don’t accept the notion that the owner shouldn’t be there. It’s a pointless argument. Can anyone care more about the team than we do?”

He further pointed out that the 2025 PSL final featured both team owners in the dugout, including Lahore Qalandars’ Sameen Rana, who was even performing coaching duties. Thus, he said, the debate should end once and for all.

Nadeem Omar also addressed criticism about Quetta Gladiators’ team selection, openly admitting that the franchise couldn’t consistently provide opportunities to players like Khawaja Nafay and Haseebullah — something they too deeply regret. Selecting four overseas players and maintaining a balanced team combination is no easy task, he said. “Sitting on TV and asking why someone wasn’t played or why someone was benched is relatively easy,” he added.

Omar believes such criticism of the franchise is unfair. A franchise is only active for about 34 days in the tournament, and its core objectives are building a strong team, competing to win, and becoming champions. Therefore, blaming the franchises for the national cricket talent pool and selection is unjust — that’s the job of Pakistan’s domestic cricket system. Shifting the entire burden onto PSL franchises by framing selection processes around PSL performances is not fair.

Speaking of the origins of the league, Nadeem Omar said the 2016 launch of the PSL and Najam Aziz Sethi’s decision are now part of history. He acknowledged that Quetta Gladiators might not have faced significant financial losses, but other franchises have had to face considerable financial challenges. In this context, he openly expressed concerns about the inclusion of two more teams in the league.

He emphasized that over ten years, all six franchises have played a major role in turning the PSL into a brand, and it’s now time for team ownership rights to be granted — similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL).