The Pakistan Super League season 9 would begin on Saturday (today) in Lahore as the Lahore Qalandars skipper look to win the title third time in a row.

“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,” Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Lahore Qalandars skipper, said.

Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars would take on Islamabad United, also two-time champions feature in the opening match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The match is expected to begin at 8pm. In the double-header, the afternoon match between Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi would begin at 2pm while the evening match between Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings would begin at 7pm. The matches taking place during Ramazan would begin at 9pm.

“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.”

The Gaddafi Stadium would host its first opening ceremony of the league. The ceremony will kick off at 6:30pm with an array of performances from renowned artists Arif Lohar, Natasha Baig, pop band Noori and the singers of the HBL PSL 9 anthem song Ali Zafar and Aima Baig.

Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi to host 34 matches

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host nine matches, which includes Lahore Qalandars playing five matches at their home turf. The picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium will host five matches – all Multan Sultans fixtures. Lahore and Multan will host the first leg of the league from 17 to 27 February before action moves to Karachi and Rawalpindi.

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Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will host nine matches from 2 to 10 March with Islamabad United featuring in five matches. Peshawar Zalmi will play four of their 10 matches in Rawalpindi, while Quetta Gladiators will play three matches at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Karachi’s National Bank Stadium will host 11 matches including the grand finale on 18 March.

Shahdab Khan, the captain of Islamabad United, said that he wanted to lift the trophy for his team this season.

“I want my team to stand tall in high-pressure games and get over the line. We have evaluated our mistakes from the last season and are looking forward to executing our plans aptly this time around.”

More to follow…