Tag: Pakistan Super League

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced that fans will be able to nominate their favourite personalities for the ‘Hamaray Heroes’ awards for the forthcoming edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).

As per the PCB press release, fans can submit nominations by filling out a nominations form available on the HBL PSL website for various fields such as sports, education, healthcare, art, culture, music, social work, social entrepreneurship, and technology, and submitting it by the 25th of January.

The final list will then be submitted to a panel of members of the PCB Board of Governors and the top candidates will then be rewarded during the tournament.

The campaign, which honoured notable Pakistan talents such as Imran Butt and Arslan Ash, was introduced in the PSL 6 and received an overwhelming response.

The PSL 8 will kick off in Multan on February 13 with the defending champions Lahore Qalandars locking horns with hosts Multan Sultans in the opener. Whereas, the final of the tournament will take place on March 19 in Lahore.

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LAHORE: The Replacement Draft for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8 will take place on January 24, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.

After analyzing the international cricket schedule, the PCB management committee decided to hold the replacement draft on Tuesday, January 24.

Meanwhile, PCB also revealed that the franchises had also requested the cricket governing body to increase the pool of players. PCB, consequently, approved their proposal and the franchises will now add two more players in the supplementary category to complete a squad of 20.

“Meanwhile, on the request of the franchises, the PCB has agreed to increase the number of players per side to 20, allowing each franchise to pick two additional Supplementary players,” said PCB in a statement.

“The Supplementary players will be picked in the Replacement Draft, which will take place on Tuesday, 24 January,” the statement added.

Earlier, the chairman of PCB Najam Sethi held a press conference here and unveiled the complete schedule of the PSL 8.

The extravaganza will be held from February 13 to March 19 across four different venues – Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi – with Multan getting the opportunity to host the opening ceremony of the marquee league for the first time.

Furthermore, the eighth edition of the PSL will be held in two different phases with Karachi and Multan splitting up matches from 13-26 February before the action shifts to Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The two cities – Rawalpindi and Lahore – will then host 20 matches from February 26 to March 19 while the latter will host the final of the event.

READ: Is Ali Sethi performing PSL 8 anthem? Najam Sethi settles the dust

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi hinted at limiting the participation of top national players in foreign leagues in a bid to prevent them from injuries.

Sethi, while interacting with the media after unveiling the complete schedule of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8 responded to a question regarding players’ fitness woes and thus hinted at taking precautionary measures to avoid them.

“When I was the chairman of the PCB in 2017-18, we established a rule that no player can participate in more than two leagues. So, after coming back, I enquired about whether that rule is being followed or not, I did not get a satisfactory response,” revealed Sethi.

“Despite the rule in place, the players somehow get permission to participate in different leagues. So, that rule is not being followed,” he added.

Mr Sethi further revealed the proposal he received from PSL franchises regarding players’ availability ahead of the PSL 8 before categorically stating that the PCB will not risk their fitness at any cost.

“Recently, some of our players were wanting to partake in the Bangladesh Premier League including those who are going to be involved in the PSL. So, I asked management committee member Haroon Rashid as he was monitoring such cases to get feedback from their respective franchises if they will permit their players,” said Sethi.

“And if they get injured there and later ruled out of the PSL, who will be responsible for this and what should the policy be for it so we got a suggestion from the franchises that 15 days prior to the commencement of the PSL all the selected players should return to the country,” he maintained.

“So that is the proposal for us and I am ensuring you that definitely we will take action on this because we can’t risk it. There is so much cricket being played so we have to protect our players. It is true that players need financial assistance but not by risking national duty,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that the eighth edition of the PSL will kick off on February 13 with hosts Multan Sultans taking on defending champions Lahore Qalandars in the curtain raiser.

Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi will host the 34-match marquee event with each city-based franchise will play five matches in front of their fans and supporters – one against each side.

The PSL 8 will be held in two legs with Multan Cricket Stadium and National Bank Cricket Arena splitting matches from 13-26 February before the action shifts to the Gaddafi Stadium and Pindi Cricket Stadium where the matches will be played from 26 February to 19 March including playoffs and the final.

READ: Is Ali Sethi performing PSL 8 anthem? PCB chairman settles the dust

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board will release the complete schedule of the hotly-anticipated Pakistan Super League season 8 today. 

Chairman of PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi will reveal the schedule later today in a press conference at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium

Tentatively, the six-team tournament will take place from February 13 to March 19 in Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the PCB head had earlier announced Quetta to be one of the host cities for PSL 8 matches.

As per the sources, Quetta will host an exhibition match ahead of the tournament between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

The final schedule has reportedly been compiled with the final consultations between the teams and the board.

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KARACHI: The most followed franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Karachi Kings have signed 1XBAT as Titanium sponsor for the eighth edition of the marquee league. 

Taking to Twitter, Kings announced titanium sponsorship with 1XBAT.

We are honored to present #1XBAT as titanium sponsor of Karachi Kings.

1XBAT – One step to success!#YehHaiKarachi | #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/qxZf4iKwzO

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) January 5, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that the upcoming eighth edition of the PSL is likely to take place in February-March this year across multiple venues.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will announce the official schedule and venue list in due course.

Furthermore, chair of the PCB management committee Najam Sethi announced to hold PSL and international matches at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Quetta.

READ: Usama Mir stunned with his inclusion in Pakistan’s squad for NZ ODIs 

LAHORE: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Friday announced Bugti Stadium, Quetta as a potential host for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8.

Sethi interacted with the media here after the management committee’s first meeting after taking the charge of the cricket board and announced Quetta to be one of the host cities for PSL 8 matches.

“I am delighted that seven years after launching the HBL Pakistan Super League, I am today announcing our commitment to add Bugti Stadium in Quetta as the fifth venue for our marquee event,” said Sethi.

“Bugti Stadium is the home ground of Quetta Gladiators and we still remember the incredible scenes when the Gladiators visited the city after winning the 2019 tournament.

“The passionate cricket fans of Quetta have been waiting for long to watch high-profile cricket in their backyard and I am pleased that we will now bring HBL PSL matches to their doors. In this relation, I have already spoken with influential officials in the Balochistan province, who have assured me of their complete support from event delivery perspectives.”

The Committee also discussed Peshawar as a potential venue to stage HBL PSL and international matches and agreed that subject to there being no restrictions imposed by the provincial and federal governments and the stadia boasting international standard facilities for cricket, broadcast, spectators and media, matches will be held in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital.

The Management Committee discussed the domestic cricket structure under the PCB Constitution 2014 and, in the best interest of the players and event, decided to let the Pakistan Cup complete on January 3.

READ: PAK vs NZ: Second Test likely to be shifted from Multan to Karachi 

KARACHI: All six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises completed their squads for the upcoming eighth edition of the marquee level in the recently-held Players’ Draft here on Thursday.

Lahore Qalandars

As per the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced pick order, defending champions Lahore Qalandars, who had the opportunity to open the proceedings, wasted no time roping back their key opener Fakhar Zaman for the upcoming edition, having released him earlier when they announced their retentions.

The Qalandars then picked national all-rounder Hussain Talat in the diamond and Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza in the gold category, in a bid to firm their combination by recruiting the all-rounders.

The 2022 champions then picked Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig and Ahmed Daniyal in the silver category to strengthen their already strong pace attack.

Young wicketkeeper batter Shawaiz Irfan, who represented Bahawalpur Royals in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL) managed to grasp the attention of the Qalandars think thank as they recruited Irfan in the emerging category; covering their need for a wicketkeeper.

The Qalandars then roped in a foreign wicketkeeper batter Jordan Cox before picking pacer Jalat Khan in their final pick.

The Qalandars already had some prominent names in their retentions like star pacer and their captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Harry Brook, David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique and Kamran Ghulam.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Rashid Khan, Fakhar Zaman
Diamond: David Wiese, Hussain Talat
Gold: Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza
Silver: Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmed Daniyal
Emerging: Zaman Khan, Shawaiz Irfan
Supplementary: Jordan Cox, Jalat Khan

Quetta Gladiators

The 2019 champions, Quetta Gladiators, who had the second pick, picked top-ranked T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva in their squad to bring more quality to their spin bowling as they already had the firepower with the pace.

Soon after, the Gladiators’ first pick in the platinum category, Multan Sultans intended to snap their ace pacer Naseem Shah, but the Gladiators brought their Right To Match Card in effect to rope back Naseem.

In a bid to add flavour to their batting line-up, the Gladiators availed the services of hard-hitting West Indian batter Odean Smith in the diamond category before picking their last edition’s opener Ahsan Ali in the gold category to have more opening options in their squad.

In the silver category, however, the Gladiators picked the experienced all-rounder Umaid Asif and tape-ball cricket sensation Muhammad Zahid.

Young batter Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, who represented Balochistan in the recent edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, was picked by the Gladiators in the emerging category.

The former champions then went on to add another experienced opening batter, Martin Guptill to their side and also Pakistan U-19 player Omair Bin Yousuf in the supplementary category.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva
Diamond: Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Odean Smith
Gold: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Mohammad Hasnain, Ahsan Ali
Silver: Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal (Mentor), Will Smeed, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid
Emerging: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai
Supplementary: Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf

Multan Sultans

The 2021 champions Sultans started their proceedings with a bang as they snatched veteran South African batter David Miller, following up with Irish pacer Josh Little in the platinum category.

The Sultans then added young West Indian spinner, Akeal Hosein in the gold, while Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Anwar Ali in the silver.

ICC T20 World Cup 2022 winner Adil Rashid, who played a crucial role in his national team’s glory was picked as a supplementary player by the Sultans, followed by PJL and Southern Punjab batter Arafat Minhas.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Mohammad Rizwan (c), David Miller, Josh Little
Diamond: Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood
Gold: Akeal Hosein, Shahnawaz Dahani (Brand Ambassador), Tim David
Silver: Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Anwar Ali
Emerging: Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah
Supplementary: Adil Rashid, Arafat Minhas

Karachi Kings

2020 champions Karachi Kings roped in Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper batter Matthew Wade to their squad and followed their vital decision by picking seasoned South African spinner Imran Tahir.

The Kings acquired the services of two English batters James Vince and James Fuller in the diamond category, while Australian pacer Andrew Tye in the gold.

PSL 5 champions followed their decent start in the draft by picking in-form batter Tayyab Tahir and young wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Akhlaq in the silver category.

The Kings then roped in middle-order Irfan Khan Niazi in the emerging category.

Adding more depth to their bowling, Kings then went on to recruit star South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and sensational pacer Mohammad Umar in the supplementary category.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Haider Ali, Matthew Wade, Imran Tahir
Diamond: Imad Wasim (c), Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Malik, James Vince, James Fuller
Gold: Andrew Tye
Silver: Aamir Yamin, Mir Hamza, Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Akhlaq
Emerging: Qasim Akram, Irfan Khan Niazi
Supplementary: Tabraiz Shamsi, Mohammad Umar

Islamabad United

Two-time champions of PSL Islamabad United, who had earlier released the English opener, Alex Hales, and Afghan hard-hitting Rahman Ullah Gurbaz from their lineup re-picked them in the platinum category.

The United then roped in Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the diamond to strengthen their bowling department before adding mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the gold.

Veteran middle-order batter Sohaib Maqsood and left-arm pacer Rumman Raees, who played for the Sultans in the last edition were picked by the United in the Silver category for the upcoming eighth edition.

In the emerging category, however, the former champions picked their young bowler from the previous edition Zeeshan Zameer back into the squad again.

The inaugural champions also managed to acquire the services of seasoned English all-rounder Moeen Ali by picking him in the supplementary category alongside young all-rounder Mubasir Khan.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Shadab Khan (c), Alex Hales, Rahman Ullah Gurbaz
Diamond: Asif Ali (Brand Ambassador), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Gold: Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali
Silver: Abrar Ahmed, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Sohaib Maqsood, Rumman Raees
Emerging: Zeeshan Zameer
Supplementary: Moeen Ali, Mubasir Khan

Peshawar Zalmi

The 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi started their proceedings by picking Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa and hard-hitting West Indian batter Rovman Powell in the platinum category.

Afghan spin wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman was then also picked by the franchise in the diamond, followed by Danish Aziz and Arshad Iqbal in the gold.

The former champions then brought Wild Card into effect as they roped in former Gladiator Saim Ayub in the silver category, followed by spinner Usman Qadir.

Young batting sensation Haseeb Ullah then also went to the Zalmi in the emerging category, alongside Sufiyan Muqeem.

Babar-led Zalmi then took a surprising decision of skipping their pick in the supplementary category.

Complete Squad

Platinum: Babar Azam (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rovman Powell
Diamond: Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Gold: Mohammad Haris, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal
Silver: Saim Ayub, Aamir Jamal (Brand Ambassador), Salman Irshad and Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Usman Qadir
Emerging: Sufyan Muqeem, Haseeb Ullah

KARACHI: All six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have completed their squads for the upcoming eighth edition in the Players’ Draft held here today.

PLATINUM CATEGORY

Round 1

 

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman

Quetta Gladiators: Wanindu Hasaranga

Multan Sultans: David Miller

Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade

Islamabad United: Alex Hales

Peshawar Zalmi: Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Round 2

Quetta Gladiators: Naseem Shah (Right To Match)

Peshawar Zalmi: Rovman Powell

Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Karachi Kings: Imran Tahir

Multan Sultans: Josh Little

DIAMOND CATEGORY

Islamabad United: Fazalhaq Farooqi

Peshawar Zalmi: Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Lahore Qalandars: Hussain Talat

Quetta Gladiators: Odean Smith

Karachi Kings: James Vince

Karachi Kings: James Fuller

GOLD CATEGORY

Peshawar Zalmi: Danish Aziz

Quetta Gladiators: Ahsan Ali

Lahore Qalandars: Sikandar Raza

Multan Sultans: Akeal Hosein

Karachi Kings: Andrew Tye

Lahore Qalandars: Liam Dawson

Peshawar Zalmi: Arshad Iqbal

SILVER CATEGORY

Round 1

Islamabad United: Abrar Ahmed

Quetta Gladiators: Umaid Asif

Karachi Kings: Tayyab Tahir

Multan Sultans: Usama Mir

Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub (Wild Card)

Lahore Qalandars: Dilbar Hussain

Round 2

Peshawar Zalmi: Usman Qadir

Islamabad United: Sohaib Maqsood

Multan Sultans: Usman Khan

Karachi Kings: Muhammad Akhlaq

Lahore Qalandars: Mirza Tahir Baig

Quetta Gladiators: Muhammad Zahid

Round 3

Lahore Qalandars: Ahmed Daniyal

Multan Sultans: Sameen Gul

Islamabad United: Rumman Raees

Multan Sultans: Anwar Ali

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Sarwar Afridi

EMERGING

Karachi Kings: Irfan Khan Niazi

Peshawar Zalmi: Sufyan Muqeem

Islamabad United: Zeeshan Zameer

Quetta Gladiators: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai

Lahore Qalandars: Shawaiz Irfan

Islamabad United: Hassan Nawaz

Peshawar Zalmi: Haseeb Ullah

Quetta Gladiators: Aimal Khan

SUPPLEMENTARY

Round 1

Peshawar Zalmi: James Neesham

Multan Sultans: Adil Rashid

Quetta Gladiators: Martin Guptill

Peshawar Zalmi: Skipped

Lahore Qalandars: Jordan Cox

Islamabad United: Moeen Ali

Round 2

Quetta Gladiators: Omair Bin Yousuf

Karachi Kings: Tabraiz Shamsi

Lahore Qalandars: Jalat Khan

Multan Sultans: Arafat Minhas

Karachi Kings: Mohammad Umar

Islamabad United: Mubasir Khan

NOTE: Franchises are arranged in accordance with their pick order in each category.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday released the list of players placed in the platinum category for the upcoming Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) season 8 Draft, left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman included.

A total of 35 renowned players, including Pakistan’s left-handed batter Fakhar, are listed in the platinum category for the PSL 8 Draft.

Notably, Fakhar was released by the PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars as they announced their retentions for the next edition, however, can recruit the left-handed opener as they will be having the first pick in the players’ draft.

The left-handed batter was adjudged the batter of the PSL 7 as he accumulated 588 runs at 45.23 with a hefty strike rate of 152.7.

He smashed seven half-centuries and a hundred for the Qalandars and played a crucial role in their maiden PSL title victory.

🚨 List of players in 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺 category for the #HBLPSLDraft 🚨 #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/yroG0dOqYL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 14, 2022

 

The much-awaited players’ draft for the next year’s edition of the PSL will be held in Karachi on December 15.

Earlier, a list of foreign players in the diamond category was also released on Monday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had already revealed the pick order for the drafts, where defending champions Lahore Qalandars will make the first pick followed by Quetta Gladiators and 2021 champions Multan Sultans.

The marquee tournament is slated to take place next year from February 9 to March 19 with Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi selected as host venues for the eighth edition of PSL.

The champions of the 2020 edition, Karachi Kings will make the fourth pick, while two-time champions Islamabad United will have the fifth pick.

The 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, will make the last pick in the draft.

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam has been named the skipper of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi for the upcoming eighth edition of the marquee league.

“Announcing [King Babar] as Peshawar Zalmi’s Captain for [PSL 8,” Peshawar Zalmi announced on Twitter.

Announcing #KingBabar as Peshawar Zalmi's Captain for #HBLPSL8 💛⚡@babarazam258#Zalmi #YellowStorm #ZKingdom pic.twitter.com/CfIusqGqxG

— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) December 14, 2022

 

Last month witnessed one of the biggest trades in the history of the PSL when Peshawar Zalmi recruited the most successful batter of the tournament Babar with former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and enterprising batter Haider Ali.

Babar represented the Kings since the second edition of the marquee league after leaving Islamabad United after the inaugural edition.

Amid his run with the 2020 champions, Babar became the highest run-getter of the league as he accumulated 2413 runs in just 68 matches.

Notably, Babar led his former franchise Karachi Kings in the previous edition of PSL and also won the 2020 title under the captaincy of Kings’ captain Imad Wasim.

Meanwhile, the players’ draft of the upcoming PSL 8 will be held in Karachi on Thursday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had already revealed the pick order for the drafts, where defending champions Lahore Qalandars will make the first pick followed by  Quetta Gladiators and 2021 champions Multan Sultans.

The champions of the 2020 edition, Karachi Kings will make the fourth pick, while two-time champions Islamabad United will have the fifth pick.

The 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, will make the last pick in the draft.

Furthermore, the marquee tournament is slated to take place next year from February 9 to March 19 with Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi selected as host venues for the eighth edition of PSL.

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