Sports

Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Pindi to host PSL-5 from Feb 20

By Our Correspondent

January 02, 2020

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Wednesday announced the schedule for the highly anticipated fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League which starts on February 20.

The 34 matches will be played in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. Of the 34 event matches, the National Stadium will stage nine matches while Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will play host to 14 matches.

The four international venues of the country will host the fifth edition from 20 February to 22 March.The schedule announcement was part of the 50 days to go to PSL 2020 celebrations that also featured the launching of the countdown clock, which has been mounted at the main entrance of the Gaddafi Stadium – the home of Pakistan cricket.

Reigning champions Quetta Gladiators will open the event at the back of an opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Karachi when they will go toe to toe with two-time former winners Islamabad United, while curtains will fall on the fifth edition of one of the most popular and followed leagues on March 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

National Stadium will also play host to the Qualifier between the top two sides, whereas the Gaddafi Stadium will be the venue of the two Eliminators and the final.Of the 34 event matches, National Stadium will stage nine matches and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will play host to 14 matches. Multan Sultans will play three games at the Multan Cricket Stadium, while Pindi Cricket Stadium will be the venue for eight matches.

According to the event schedule, defending champions Quetta Gladiators will play three matches in Lahore, four in Karachi, one in Multan and two in Rawalpindi; while Peshawar Zalmi, the 2017 winners and the 2019 losing finalists, will be in action in one match each in Lahore and Multan, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi.

Islamabad United will play three matches in Lahore, two in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi; Karachi Kings will play two matches in Lahore, five in Karachi, one in Multan and two in Rawalpindi; Multan Sultans will play five matches in Lahore, one in Karachi, three in Multan and one in Rawalpindi; and Lahore Qalandars will play eight matches in Lahore and one each in Karachi and Rawalpindi.

The HBL PSL 2020 will see 36 foreign stars. It was gratifying that 425 overseas players from 22 countries registered their interest in playing in the HBL PSL 2020. Of these, 39 from Afghanistan, 12 from Australia, 23 from Bangladesh, 10 from Canada, 109 from England, seven from Hong Kong, six from Ireland, seven from the Netherlands, eight from Nepal, 11 from New Zealand, nine from Oman, five from Scotland, four from Singapore, 27 from South Africa, 39 from Sri Lanka, nine from the UAE, six from the USA, 82 from the West Indies, 9 from Zimbabwe and one each from Bermuda, Kenya and Namibia.

Meanwhile PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said after bringing Test cricket back to Pakistan, hosting of the entire HBL PSL-5 is PCB’s other major achievement.

Schedule of PSL-5:

Feb 20: Opening ceremony to be followed by star Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, National Stadium (Start time TBC)

Feb: 21: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, National Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 22: Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, National Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 23: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, National Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 26: Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 27: Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 28: Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan Cricket Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Feb 29: Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan Cricket Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 1: Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 2: Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 3: Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 4: Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 5: Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 6: Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 7: – Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Pindi Cricket Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 8: – Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Pindi Cricket Stadium (2pm-5.15pm); Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 10: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 11: Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 12: Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, National Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)

Mar 13: Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, National Stadium (7pm-10.15pm)