The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday unveiled the schedule for the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the 44-match tournament set to run from March 26 to May 3 across six venues.
For the first time in the league’s history, eight teams will participate in the 39-day event, marking the beginning of a new era for the country’s premier T20 competition.
Two new franchises – Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi Pindiz – have joined the league following the PSL auction.
Matches will be played in Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, with Faisalabad and Peshawar hosting PSL games for the first time.
Each team will play 10 matches in the group stage, after which the top four sides will qualify for the playoffs comprising Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the final. The knockout stage will run from April 28 to May 3.
The final will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 3, with May 4 reserved as a backup day.
Gaddafi Stadium will host the opening match on March 26 between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen and will stage a total of 15 matches, including three double-headers.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including a qualifier, while Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad will stage seven matches in its PSL debut season.
Karachi’s National Bank Stadium will host six matches, while Multan Cricket Stadium will stage four evening fixtures featuring home side Multan Sultans.
Meanwhile, Peshawar’s Imran Khan Cricket Stadium – formerly known as Arbab Niaz Stadium – will host its first-ever PSL match on March 28 between Peshawar Zalmi and Rawalpindi Pindiz.
The tournament will feature 12 double-headers in total.
With the addition of the two new franchises, Hyderabad Kingsmen were acquired for Rs1.75 billion while Rawalpindi Pindiz were bought for Rs2.45 billion. Meanwhile, the PCB has also opened the media accreditation process for PSL 11, with applications accepted through the board’s online portal until 7pm on March 13.