By Zainab Shafiq 
Former Pakistani Test cricketer Sami Aslam has expressed that numerous prominent cricketers in Pakistan are inclined to relocate to the United States of America (USA) for a better future in the sport.
Sami made the decision to depart from Pakistan in 2020 and pursue a professional cricket career in the USA. The southpaw batsman, known for representing Pakistan in 13 Test matches and four ODIs, cited the lack of opportunities as the driving force behind his departure.
In a recent interview, Sami disclosed that esteemed Pakistani cricketers often reach out to him seeking improved prospects in the USA.
“While Pakistan can be an ideal place to reside if you possess financial stability, I migrated to the USA due to the absence of opportunities for players involved in longer-format cricket. Only those who participate in the PSL (Pakistan Super League) feel secure in Pakistan. However, there are numerous top cricketers who aspire to move to the USA,” he shared.
Sami was recruited by Major League Cricket (MLC) and secured a three-year contract. Furthermore, he obtained a ‘Green Card’ within a remarkably short span of six months.
“Even if you play an entire domestic season in Pakistan, the monetary gains are incomparable to what you can earn here by participating in a small-scale event. Recently, around 20 to 30 cricketers from Pakistan arrived here to participate in a tournament, and they earned significantly more than what players receive after completing a three to four-month domestic season in Pakistan,” he mentioned.
“Presently, there aren’t many openings for players since the management here is not offering contracts. We were among the initial group of Pakistani players to secure contracts,” he concluded.
It should be noted that Sami will be representing the Texas Super Kings (TSK) in the inaugural edition of the MLC, commencing on July 14. The TSK team is supported by the owners of the five-time champion franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Apart from Sami, Ehsan Adil and Hammad Azam (MI New York), Imad Wasim and Azam Khan (Seattle Orcas), Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf (San Francisco Unicorns), and Saif Badar (Los Angeles Knight Riders) will also showcase their skills during the first season of the MLC.