Peshawar cricket fans will be disappointed once again as the city is set to miss out on hosting matches for the upcoming season 9 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2024.
Despite a two-year period since the start of construction of the Hayatabad Cricket Stadium under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the project remains unfinished.
The crucial installation of floodlights has yet to begin, which means Peshawar won’t be able to host any PSL matches.
According to sources, the construction costs of the stadium have exceeded billions of rupees, yet the stadium remains incomplete.
Cricket enthusiasts in Peshawar are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness their favorite national and international cricketers in action in their city.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to host PSL 9 matches across four venues: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.
The teams will gather on February 12 for practice sessions and matches over four days.
The tournament will kick off on February 17 in Lahore, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars taking on Islamabad United in the opening match. The following day, Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings will face off in Multan.
The first game in Karachi is scheduled between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United on February 28. Matches in Rawalpindi will start on March 1, with United playing against Quetta Gladiators. Throughout the tournament, there will be six double-headers. Check out complete the PSL schedule here.
Karachi will host 11 matches, while Lahore and Rawalpindi will each host nine matches. Multan will host five matches.
The playoff matches and the final will be held in Karachi, with the final scheduled for March 17.
It’s important to note that the teams have already finalized their squads for the upcoming season. The squad selection process took place at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, where teams went through an extensive process to finalize their squads. Check out the complete squads of PSL 9 teams.
While Peshawar may be missing out on hosting PSL matches this season, cricket fans across the country can still look forward to an exciting tournament with top-notch cricket action and a thrilling finale in Karachi.