PSL 9 Venue Speculations: Is Peshawar Ready to Host Cricket Action?
Crucial installation of floodlights has not commenced, resulting in Peshawar’s inability to host PSL matches.
In yet another setback for cricket fans in Peshawar, the city is poised to miss the upcoming thrilling clashes of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9, scheduled to commence in February 2024.
Despite a two-year period since the initiation of the construction of Hayatabad Cricket Stadium under the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, the project remains unfinished, according to sources reported by Geo News.
The crucial installation of floodlights has not commenced, rendering Peshawar unable to host PSL matches.
Sources reveal that the stadium’s construction costs have surpassed billions, yet the stadium remains incomplete.
Cricket enthusiasts in Peshawar are eagerly anticipating the chance to witness their favorite national and international cricketers in action.
It’s important to note that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) favors hosting PSL 9 matches across four venues: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.
Teams are set to start gathering on February 12 for practice sessions and matches across four days.
The event will kick off on February 17 in Lahore, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars facing Islamabad United in the opening match. Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings will play in Multan on February 18.
The first game in Karachi is recommended between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United on February 28, and matches in Rawalpindi will start on March 1 with United playing Quetta Gladiators. Six double-headers are also scheduled during the event.
Eleven matches will take place in Karachi, nine each in Lahore and Rawalpindi, and five in Multan.
Three playoff matches and the final are scheduled to take place in Karachi, with the final set for March 17.
Teams have already completed their squads for the upcoming season, and the event took place at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, where teams finalized their squads after an extensive team selection process.
PSL Squads
Karachi Kings: Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Mohammad Nawaz, Tim Siefert, James Vince, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Tabraiz Shamis, Mohammad Amir Khan, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Irfan Niazi, Sirajuddin, Saad Baig, and Jamie Overton.
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Rassie Van der Dussen, Shaheen Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan, Haris Rauf, David Wiese, Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique, Zaman Khan, Imran Jr, Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, Dan Lawrence, Mirza Tahir Baig, Rashid Khan, Syed Faridoun Mahmood, Jahandad Khan, Shai Hope, and Kamran Ghulam.
Islamabad United: Jordan Cox, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Tymal Mills, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Rumman Raees, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, and Tom Curran.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Noor Ahmed, Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Naveen-ul-Haq, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Umair Afridi, Daniel Mousley, Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Lungi Ngidi, and Mehran Mumtaz.
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan, David Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed, Dawid Malan, Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Reeza Hendricks, Reece Topley, Abbas Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Ihsanullah, Faisal Akram, Yasir Khan, Chris Jordan, and Aftab Ibrahim.
Quetta Gladiators: Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Junior, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Will Smeed, Khawaja Nafay, Adil Naz, Akeal Hosain, and Sohail Khan.
