Daily Times

LAHORE: The second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will start from February 9, 2017 and the first match will be played between defending champions Islamabad United and third-placed team in the first edition Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event will kick-off with an opening ceremony on the aforementioned date followed by the inaugural match. The double round-robin format will then continue until February 26. The play-offs will be played on March 1 and March 3. The final, which is set to take place in Lahore, will then be played on March 7 at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

“After the massive success of PSL’s inaugural edition, number of match days for the second edition has been increased from 16 to 18 days,” a Pakistan Cricket Board press release read. “In line with the announcement by PSL chairman Najam Sethi, that has taken Pakistan cricket fans by a storm, the final of the second edition will be played in Lahore on the March 7, 2017, which will help pave way for return of international cricket to the country,” the press release further read.

Although the PCB has slotted the final for Lahore but it has also made it clear it is subject to security clearance given the prevailing security conditions in Pakistan which has seen top Test playing nations avoid touring the country since March, 2009. The PCB has in its contracts given to the foreign players included a clause which makes it binding upon them to make themselves available for the final in Lahore if their team qualifies for the summit clash. But a reliable source in the PCB has also confirmed that in return for playing in Lahore the foreign players whose franchises will qualify for the final will be paid extra fees of around $20,000 each. Sethi, a senior official of the PCB, has said in recent times that on some occasions they were advised by the government and security agencies to not invite international teams to Pakistan or Lahore because of security threats. The first PSL was a big success for the PCB held last February in Dubai and Sharjah. Riding on inaugural edition’s success, more big names from overseas were included in the players draft held last month in Dubai. Interestingly, although the PSL was only launched this year there are strong moves to make it an independent private company without any direct control of the PCB. A well-informed source said the matter is to be put up for approval when the PCB Governing Council meets on November 9 in Lahore but PCB chairman Sharharyar Khan has already made it clear that the PCB wants to have control over the league.

Schedule

February 9, 2017 (Thursday): Opening Ceremony in Dubai

February 9: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United in Dubai

February 10: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators in Dubai, Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai

February 11: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars in Dubai, Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings in Dubai

February 12: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars in Dubai

February 15: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah

February 16: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings in Sharjah

February 17: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah, Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United in Sharjah

February 18: Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars in Sharjah, Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah

February 19: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings in Sharjah

February 20: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United in Sharjah

February 23: Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators in Dubai

February 24: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars in Dubai), Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United in Dubai

February 25: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings in Duba, Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators in Dubai

February 26: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United in Dubai

February 28: Playoff 1: Team 1 vs Team 2 in Sharjah

March 1: Eliminator: Team 3 vs Team 4 in Sharjah

March 3: Playoff 2: Winner of Eliminator vs Runner-Up of Playoff 1 in Dubai

March 7: Final: Winner Playoff 1 vs Winner Playoff 2 in Lahore (Subject to security clearance)