WEBDESK: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday announced the schedule for HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X.
The tournament will start from April 11th with defending champions Islamabad United taking on two times champions Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The six-team tournament will see 34 matches played from 11th April until May 18th. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will see a total of 13 matches played, including the two eliminators and the final.
The upcoming edition of the tournament will also feature an exhibition match played in Peshawar on April 8. The lineup for the game will be announced in due time.
For HBL PSL X, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including Qualifier 1 on 13 May. Karachi’s National Bank Stadium and Multan Cricket Stadium will host 5 matches each. The HBL PSL X will feature three double-headers, with two matches on weekends (Saturday) and one on a national holiday (Labour Day).
Karachi Kings –winners of the league’s fifth edition, will begin their campaign on 12 April in their own backyard against runners up of the last edition, Multan Sultans.
Multan Sultans’ – the winners of the sixth edition, will face Lahore Qalandars on 22 April – the first HBL PSL X match hosted by Multan Cricket Stadium.
The newly constructed Gaddafi Stadium will welcome the tenth edition of the tournament on 24 April with Lahore Qalandars taking on Peshawar Zalmi.
Peshawar Zalmi, champions of the HBL PSL 2017 will play their five matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium while Quetta Gladitors will be playing five matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.
HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer said, “We are thrilled to officially announce the schedule for the historic 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League. Over the past decade, the HBL PSL has grown into a globally recognised tournament, showcasing the best of Pakistan’s cricketing talent.
“The fans in this year’s tournament will not only see high-profile international cricketers but will also witness 34 high-octane matches across four major cities—Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.
“As part of our commitment to expanding the reach of the HBL PSL, we are delighted to host an exhibition match in Peshawar before the start of the tournament, which is a significant step in bringing top-tier cricket to Peshawar, a city with a deep-rooted love for the game.
“We remain dedicated to enhancing the experience for players, fans, and stakeholders, who have witnessed some breathtaking contests in the league over the years.”
PCB announced on January 19 that it will pay an additional sum of $100,000 to six high-profile foreign players in the franchise for making themselves available for the tournament.
A number of overseas players who went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction were signed on by franchises during the player draft. They include David Warner, Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Matthew Short, Sean Abbot, Nahid Rana, Liton Das, Micheal Bracewell, Russie van der Dussen and Corbin Bosch, among others.
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