USMAN KHAN
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a trophy, a cheque of Rs120 million, and a prize money of Rs48 million for the runners-up as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 kicks off on Monday evening in Multan.
The tournament will kick off with the opening ceremony in Multan today (Monday), after which the first match will be played between the 2021 defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans
The PSL session 8 closing ceremony and final would be played on March 19 in Lahore, which also hosts play-offs.
Lahore Qalandars will attempt to become the first side to win back-to-back titles, while Islamabad United aims to become the most successful side by lifting the trophy thrice.
The six franchises have won the PSL title at least once, showcasing the teams’ quality and the higher level of competition in the PSL tournament.
Islamabad United won the title in 2016 and 2018 and the Peshawar Zalmi won in 2017. Quetta Gladiators, the finalist in the first two editions, won the 2019 competition.
The Karachi Kings were the first side to lift the trophy at their home when they eased past Qalandars in Karachi in 2020. Sultans bagged their maiden title in 2021. the previous year, Qalandars lifted the PSL trophy in Lahore.
PSL schedule
The PSL 8 would be held in two legs, with Multan Cricket Stadium and National Bank Cricket arena splitting matches from February 13-26 before the action shifts to the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the matches would be played from February 26 to March 19.
This includes the Qualifier, two Eliminators, and a final at the home of Pakistan cricket from March 15-19.
Rawalpindi would stage 11 fixtures, Karachi and Lahore will host nine matches each, whereas Multan will have five home games.
Afternoon matches will start at 2 pm local time; meanwhile, evening matches in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will start at 7 pm. Evening matches in Multan begin at 6 pm except for the tournament opener, which will commence at 8 pm.
The Pakistan Women’s League launch will take place during the PSL 8, when three exhibition matches will be played in the lead-up to the men’s matches in Rawalpindi on March 8, 10, and 11. The two women’s sides are expected to comprise leading local and foreign players, details of which will be announced in due course.
