- May 22, 2025
Picture yourself at the supermarket, casually reaching for your favorite snack, when your phone buzzes with life-changing news: “You’re in.” That’s how one T20 freelancer got the unexpected call to the Pakistan Super League. One match, in a time of geopolitical tensions, a long way from home. It’s a story beyond cricket itself, opportunity, risk, and the meaning of a life chasing your dream in a job filled with unpredictability.
Taking the Gamble: When Opportunity Meets Risk
For a freelancer in cricket, the term “maybe” is arguably the most ulcer-inducing vocalization. Contracts come and go. Opportunities are few and far between, so when Multan Sultans reached out to this particular player at a time of restart in the PSL – and during the same timeframe that had caused parts of the league to suspend – this wasn’t taken lightly.
This player did not just book a flight. He spoke with a couple of trusted teammates – Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Warner – and based on their advice and each of their people in the Australian Cricketers’ Association, who commissioned a risk assessment, the risk assessment stated it was “safe enough” to move forward with the restart of the league.
When you are living in a perpetual state of uncertainty, all of your matches become negotiations in your head, and each is a venue or selection for the next opportunity. The player needed to understand that to say ‘yep’ meant participation in and playing cricket, but it also meant believing in the experience and leaning into the unknown.
Beyond the Pitch: The PSL Welcome and Culture
Arriving at 2 a.m. in Islamabad with fellow players, the warm welcome was obvious. After getting fast-tracked through immigration and being introduced to the Multan Sultans’ management and players, it was clear that the hospitality was first-rate. Pakistan prides itself on making you feel welcome and at home, and it is the same thing that is your expectation as a visitor.
Despite the game being a dead rubber, the atmosphere was so intense – there were armed escorts for the team bus, the heat was blistering, and the finish was gripping. For many of the fringe players, these games are gold, and it is a chance to prove themselves when the game is more about the future of their careers, rather than points on the table.
The Grind Continues: Finding Rhythm Amid Chaos
Selling the old Lucy would not be planned! The life of a freelance cricketer isn’t always one of glamour. Following our limited opportunities from the BBL and the ILT20, our player simply kept going – playing in a range of European tournaments, undertaking mentoring tours in India, and club cricket in England. Being with quality coaches like Carl Crowe to hone his skills and provide confidence is invaluable.
While his PSL match wasn’t statistically a career-defining moment as a player, it did re-ignite his belief in himself and a general love for the game again. Cricket isn’t all about runs and wickets to us – it is about the people we meet, the cultures we share, and the resilience shown through adversity.
From a simple snack run in London to a plane escorted on match day in Pakistan, this post illustrates the unpredictable, difficult, and fulfilling journey of a freelance cricketer, where every new opportunity is a chance for personal and professional growth. So here is the question to leave you with: What would you risk for your dream, and how far would you go to say yes, when the game—and life—calls?
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