The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the venues for the upcoming ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), selecting Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan as the host cities.
The tournament is slated to kick off with the first match scheduled to take place in Lahore on February 18. However, there have been raised concerns from some participating franchises regarding the suitability of this timing, citing potential challenges posed by cold weather and fog during that period.
A significant point of contention revolves around the proposed final, set to be held in Karachi on March 19. Franchises have expressed reservations about the potential for low crowd attendance, which could impact ticket revenue.
In response to this concern, Multan Sultans have suggested hosting the final in Multan, expressing confidence in their ability to attract a substantial audience.
Despite persistent efforts from Peshawar Zalmi, advocating for hosting matches in Peshawar and providing assurances of completing stadium construction within two months, the PCB has not yet made a decision on including Peshawar among the host cities.
In addition to these concerns, objections have been raised about scheduling double-headers during the holy month of Ramadan in March. The PCB, however, plans to unveil the complete schedule on December 13 during the PSL draft event, reaffirming the decision to conduct the entire tournament in Pakistan.
This is a notable confirmation, as there were earlier considerations of relocating the PSL to the UAE due to general elections in the country. The PCB’s decision to keep the tournament within Pakistan underscores their commitment to hosting the PSL on home soil despite various challenges and considerations.
