The ninth season of the Pakistan Super League kicked off today in Lahore, where the Lahore Qalandars, under the leadership of skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, aim to secure their third consecutive title. Expressing his enthusiasm, Afridi stated, “I am genuinely excited to be leading Lahore Qalandars for the third consecutive season in HBL PSL, and the hunt for a hat-trick of titles makes me eager to do well.“
The opening match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore featured two-time champions Lahore Qalandars facing off against Islamabad United, also two-time champions. The match was scheduled to commence at 8 pm. In a double-header, the afternoon clash between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi was set to begin at 2 pm, followed by the evening match between Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings at 7 pm. Matches during Ramadan were expected to start at 9 pm.
Afridi expressed the team’s ambition, saying, “We are eying a third HBL PSL win this time, and I can assure you that my team will show the same intensity as we have done in the past two seasons. Lahore Qalandars are proud of having a strong fan base, and our games in Lahore are going to be jam-packed.”
Gaddafi Stadium was poised to host its first opening ceremony of the league, featuring performances from renowned artists such as Arif Lohar, Natasha Baig, pop band Noori, and the singers of the HBL PSL 9 anthem song, Ali Zafar, and Aima Baig. Lahore, Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi were selected as host cities for the 34 matches.
The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore would host nine matches, including five home games for Lahore Qalandars. The Multan Cricket Stadium would host five matches exclusively for Multan Sultans. Lahore and Multan were set to host the initial leg of the league from February 17 to 27, followed by matches in Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi was scheduled to host nine matches from March 2 to 10, with Islamabad United participating in five of them. Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators were also slated to play matches at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
The National Bank Stadium in Karachi was designated to host 11 matches, concluding with the grand finale on March 18. Islamabad United’s captain, Shahdab Khan, expressed his desire to lift the trophy for his team this season, emphasizing the need for his team to perform well in high-pressure games. He mentioned evaluating mistakes from the previous season and focusing on executing plans effectively this time around.
