The PCB has announced the schedule for the upcoming eighth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL 8). The tournament will kick off on February 13th with the opening ceremony in Multan, followed by the tournament opener between the 2021 winners Multan Sultans and defending champions Lahore Qalandars. The closing ceremony and final will take place on March 19th in Lahore, which will also host the play-offs.
Lahore Qalandars will attempt to become the first side to win back to back titles, while Islamabad United will aim to become the most successful side by lifting the trophy thrice. Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans and Islamabad United will play five home matches each, one against each side. Rawalpindi will stage 11 fixtures, Karachi and Lahore will host nine matches each, and Multan will have five home games. Rawalpindi will host the only double-header on March 7th, where Peshawar Zalmi will play Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United will take on Multan Sultans.
More than 36 foreign players representing 10 T20I playing countries will be in action in the 34-day, 34-match tournament. T20 World Cup winners Adil Rashid and Matthew Wade, along with Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jimmy Neesham and Tabraiz Shamsi will make their debuts. Number one ranked Babar Azam will lead 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi for the first time, Imad Wasim will skipper 2020 winners Karachi Kings, Shadab Khan will captain two-time champions Islamabad United, Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain Lahore Qalandars, Mohammad Rizwan will skipper Multan Sultans and Sarfaraz Ahmed will captain 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators.
PSL 8 SCHEDULE OF MATCHES
(afternoon matches will start at 2pm; evening matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will start at 7pm. Evening matches in Multan will begin at 6pm except for the tournament opener, which will commence at 8pm)
13 Feb - Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Multan Cricket Stadium
14 Feb - Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Cricket Arena
15 Feb - Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan Cricket Stadium
16 Feb - Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, National Bank Cricket Arena
17 Feb - Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Cricket Stadium
18 Feb - Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Cricket Arena
19 Feb - Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Multan Cricket Stadium; Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank Cricket Arena
20 Feb - Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Cricket Arena
21 Feb - Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank Cricket Arena
22 Feb - Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan Cricket Stadium
23 Feb - Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, National Bank Cricket Arena
24 Feb - Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, National Bank Cricket Arena
26 Feb - Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, National Bank Cricket Arena; Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium
27 Feb - Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium
1 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
2 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium
3 Mar - Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
4 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium
5 Mar - Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium
6 Mar - Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
7 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
8 Mar – Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 1, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium
9 Mar - Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium
10 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 2, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
11 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 3, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
12 Mar - Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium
15 Mar - Qualifier (1 v 2), Gaddafi Stadium
16 Mar - Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), Gaddafi Stadium
17 Mar - Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), Gaddafi Stadium
19 Mar – Final, Gaddafi Stadium
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