The eighth edition of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) begins from tomorrow. The tournament will be played at four venues - Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.

The PSL provides a platform for local cricketers to showcase their talent.

The Pakistani league has given players like Hassan Ali, Imad Waseem, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Shahnawaz Dahani.

The first edition of PSL was played in 2016. Five teams -- Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars -- participated and all matches were played in the UAE. It was won by Islamabad United who beat Quetta Gladiators by six wickets.

The second edition was again played in the UAE, but the PCB efforts made it possible that elimination matches and the final were played in Lahore and Karachi. The final was won by Peshawar Zalmi. Quetta Gladiators remained unfortunate again in the final.

The third edition was won by Islamabad United who beat Peshawar by three wickets in Karachi.

The fourth edition of PSL was won by Quetta who beat Peshawar by eight wickets.

In 2020 finally Karachi Kings won their first PSL title by beating arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars by five wickets.

The sixth edition of PSL was won by newest side Multan Sultans who beat Peshawar Zalmi in the final by 47 runs.

Last year, finally, Lahore Qalandars' dream came true in the seventh attempt as the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led home side lifted the PSL-7 trophy in front of a full house at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Multan Sultans' dream of becoming the first team to successfully defend a PSL title was shattered with a 42-run defeat.

After Lahore's win all six teams have won the league at least once. Only Islamabad United have won the title twice.

When the management of Lahore Qalandars appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the skipper for PSL seventh edition, veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi had advised Shaheen to wait for a year or two before accepting captaincy so that he could focus on his bowling.

But Shaheen not only accepted the challenge but proved Shahid Afridi wrong by lifting maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL) title.

Before Shaheen seven players had led Lahore Qalandars - Azhar Ali and DJ Bravo in 2016, Brendon McCullum in 2017, Sohail Akhtar (2018), Mohammad Hafeez, AB de Villiers and Fakhar Zaman in 2019 and Sohail Akhtar in 2021, but it was Shaheen Afridi who gave the first PSL title to Lahore.

Shaheen became the youngest captain - at the age of 21 - to win a T20 league title. Shaheen broke the record of Indian star batsman Rohit Sharma, who led Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians to the title, aged 26, in 2013.

Pakistani domestic cricketers are some of the lowest paid professional cricketers in the world. The money offered in PSL motivates the youngsters to work harder as they hope to get signed by PSL franchises.

The PSL has come a long way since its inception. The league has become an integral part of the Pakistani cricket scene and has helped to revitalise the sport in the country.

In the past the only way for local cricketers to be financially secures was to get a place in the international team, which of course only a few can manage.

Besides the attraction of financial rewards, it is the manner in which foreign players are treated here which makes them prefer Pakistan Super League over other leagues taking place in the same months.

One of the positive aspects of PSL is that it gives the Pakistani players the chance to share dressing rooms with renowned international players and gain valuable experience.

Thanks to PSL, our young cricketers now go into the international cricket sphere having played under pressure, and thus they are familiar with strong opponents.

In this season, Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are being considered favourites for the semi-finals.

Allrounder Shadab Khan is leading Islamabad United and along with Colin Ingram, Hussain Talat, Luke Ronchi, and Asif Ali he is confident to play the final this year.

The defending champions Lahore led by Shaheen Shah Afridi have the services of Rashid Khan, Harry Brook, Liam Dawson and Fakhar Zaman who can win matches for the team single-handedly on their day.

Babar Azam is leading Peshawar Zalmi this time. With 2,413 runs in 68 matches, Babar is the PSL's all-time leading scorer so far.

Babar has a strong squad and a memorable performance from Peshawar is expected this time.

Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is in positive spirits after a phenomenal comeback to international cricket in the recently concluded series against New Zealand. He wants to continue his fine form and plans to bat up the order.

"I will be batting at number three or four this season for Gladiators and will try to give my best for the team," said Sarfaraz.

With Martin Guptill, Jayson Roy, Iftikhar Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva and Naseem Shah, Quetta are a strong contender for the final.

Despite the absence of Babar Azam, Karachi Kings are still a good side. Skipper Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Matthew Wade, James Vince, James Fuller are capable of taking their side to the final.

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