Bureau Report
Karachi: The reigning champions Karachi Kings will face Quetta Gladiators in the opening fixture as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six schedule announced. All the 34 matches of the tournament will be played in two venues, Karachi and Lahore. The National Stadium will stage the first half of the competition, while Gaddafi Stadium will be the venue of the second half of the competition, including the playoffs. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made this decision to safeguard the integrity of the PSL 2021 and to ensure health and safety of all participants in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 30-day 34-match tournament will start on February 20 with final to played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 22 March, marking the first time the venue will stage the final since 2017. Meanwhile, the decision of crowd presence will be made closer to the time of the event. The organizers are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the concerned government officials. “While preparing the event schedule, the organizers have ensured each side is playing equal number of day and evening matches. Also, the event organizers have tried to make optimum use of the weekends while scheduling double-headers that will ensure maximum following and coverage,” PCB said in a statement. The Day matches will start at 2 pm while the Night matches will start at 7 pm. Friday’s double-headers to start at 3 pm and 8 pm, respectively The Support Period for the HBL PSL 2021 will commence from 15 February and the foreign players competing in the league will arrive in Karachi with a negative PCR test. Upon arrival, they will require two more negative PCR tests before being allowed to train and compete in the competition. The asymptomatic players or support staff returning a positive test will have to serve a five-day isolation period with RT-PCR tests on day one and four. Babar Hamid, Director – Commercial: “We are delighted to announce the schedule of our marquee event – the HBL Pakistan Super League, which for the second successive season will be held in Pakistan in its entirety.”
“We had to make the tough decision to limit matches to Karachi and Lahore, and this decision has been taken in the larger interest of the event, participants and the country. We want to limit the unnecessary exposure of the players as much as practically possible so that the players can operate in a safe and healthy environment that, in turn, will allow them to continue to entertain the fans and followers with their talent, skills and gamesmanship.
“The crowds in Multan and Rawalpindi were awesome last year and we owe a big thanks to them for their contribution in making the HBL PSL 2020 a resounding success. I am sure when life returns to normal, the two cities will get their share of matches as the PCB remains committed and determined to stage matches of the HBL PSL at as many venues as possible.”
Event Schedule
Sat, 20 Feb – Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators (N); NSK, Karachi
Sun, 21 Feb – Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi (D); Islamabad United v Multan Sultans (N); both matches at NSK, Karachi
Mon, 22 Feb – Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators (N); NSK, Karachi
Tue, 23 Feb – Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans (N); NSK, Karachi
Wed, 24 Feb – Karachi Kings v Islamabad United (N); NSK, Karachi
Fri, 26 Feb – Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans (D); Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators (N); both matches at NSK, Karachi
Sat, 27 Feb – Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans (D); Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United (N); both matches at NSK, Karachi
Sun, Feb 28 – Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars (N); NSK, Karachi
Mon, 1 Mar – Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators (N); NSK, Karachi
Wed, 3 Mar – Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (D); Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans (N); both matches at NSK, Karachi
Thu, 4 Mar – Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United (N); NSK, Karachi
Fri, 5 Mar – Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings (N); NSK, Karachi
Sat, 6 Mar – Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators (D); Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars (N); NSK, Karachi
Sun, 7 Mar – Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators (D); Islamabad United v Karachi Kings (N); NSK, Karachi
Wed, 10 Mar – Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings (N); GSL, Lahore
Thu, 11 Mar – Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars (N); GSL, Lahore
Fri, 12 Mar – Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi (D); Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars (N); both matches at GSL, Lahore
Sat 13 Mar – Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings (D); Multan Sultans v Islamabad United (N); both matches at GSL, Lahore
Sun, 14 Mar – Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi (D); Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings (N); both matches at GSL, Lahore
Mon, 15 Mar – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi (N); GSL, Lahore
Tue, 16 Mar – Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars (N); GSL, Lahore
Thu, 18 Mar – Qualifier (1 v 2) (N); GSL, Lahore
Fri, 19 Mar – Eliminator 1 (3 v 4) (N); GSL, Lahore
Sat, Mar 20 – Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1) (N); GSL, Lahore
Mon, 22 Mar – Final (N), GSL, Lahore
