Pakistan To Host Eight Games Of PSL 2019, Tournament To Start On February 14

The fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will get underway on February 14 in the United Arabia Emirates (UAE).  The tournament, just like its last two editions, will then move to Pakistan. As expected the number of games in Pakistan this season will be more than the last one.

For the upcoming edition, Pakistan will host the last eight games. The final will be held in Karachi on March 17. The decision was taken when the PSL Governing Council comprising representatives of PCB and all PSL franchises met at the National Cricket Academy on Saturday.

Due to security reasons, the first season was played entirely in the UAE. The league then entered Pakistan for the first time in 2017. Lahore hosted the final of the second season as Peshawar Zalmi lifted the trophy in-front of a jam-packed Gadaffi Stadium. In the third season, Pakistan hosted three games. Lahore hosted two playoff matches while Karachi’s National Stadium was the venue for the final.

Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mr. Ehsan Mani presided over the meeting, which witnessed discussion on a number of key matters.

Mr. Ehsan Mani reiterated PCB’s aim of ensuring transparency and working in partnership with all franchises in order to make PSL a bigger success. It was decided unanimously that franchise representatives would be a part of bid committees for various upcoming PSL rights. Mr. Mani also welcomed the inclusion of franchises in the decision-making process.

“PCB and all PSL franchises are partners in this project and I am confident that we will all work together to bring in good numbers for our next rights cycle,” said Mr. Mani.

The pick order for the upcoming PSL Player Draft was discussed at the meeting. It was decided that this year’s draft would be based on last year’s rankings with teams being allowed a maximum of 10 retentions. The teams also agreed to introduce a randomised draft order from the fifth season onward.