PCB Announces Official 2023 HBL PSL 8 Schedule

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the official HBL Pakistan Super League 2023 (HBL PSL 8) Schedule, which is scheduled to commence on 13 February 2023 in Multan with the final match to be played on 19 March 2023 in Lahore.

According to the PSL 8 schedule, Lahore Qalandars will have an opportunity make history when they will take on Multan Sultans in the opening match of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2023 (PSL 8) at the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday, 13 February 2023.

Lahore Qalandars had defeated defending champions Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium by 42 runs in 2022, and will now have an additional incentive going into PSL 8 (aka Pakistan Super League 2023) with the chance of becoming the first franchise to win back to back titles.

Prior to Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi were in the similar situation when they reached the 2018 final of Pakistan’s premier T20 tournament as defending champions but faltered at the last hurdle and lost to Islamabad United, who clinched their second title in three years.

Except for Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans, no other side as defending champions have reached the final in the biggest, highly competitive and most grueling league in the cricket playing world.

PSL 2023 Schedule Overview

Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi will share between them the 34-match tournament, and the PSL 8 schedule has been designed in such a way that the four home sides will each play five matches in front of their fans and supporters – one against each side.

This means Qalandars will play five matches at the Gaddafi Stadium, while their other five matches will be in Multan (one) and, Karachi and Rawalpindi (two each). Similarly, Sultans’ five away matches will be in Rawalpindi (three) and, Karachi and Lahore (one each); Kings’ away matches will be in Rawalpindi (three) and, one each in Lahore and Multan; and United’s five away matches will be in Karachi (three) and, one each in Lahore and Multan.

Quetta Gladiators will play their 10 league matches in Karachi, Rawalpindi (four each), Lahore and Multan (one each), while Peshawar Zalmi’s fixtures will be in Rawalpindi (five), Karachi (three), and one each in Lahore and Multan.

The HBL PSL 8 will be held in two legs with Multan Cricket Stadium and National Bank Cricket Arena splitting matches from February 13 to 26, 2023, before the action shifts to the Gaddafi Stadium and Pindi Cricket Stadium where the matches will be played from 26 February to 19 March, 2023.

Moreover, the Qualifier, two Eliminators and the PSL 8 final will be held from March 15 to March 19, 2023 in Lahore.

Official PSL 8 Schedule

Timings

Afternoon matches will start at 2pm; evening matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will start at 7pm. Evening matches in Multan will begin at 6pm except for the tournament opener, which will commence at 8pm.

Pakistan Women’s League

The soft launch of the Pakistan Women’s League will also take place during the HBL PSL 8 when three exhibition matches will be played in the lead up to the men’s matches in Rawalpindi on 8, 10 and 11 March.

The two women’s sides are expected to comprise leading local and foreign players, details of which will be announced in due course. However, here’s the schedule for the Women Exhibition Matches that will be played during the PSL 8 tournament.

Key Notes

• Opening ceremony will be held in Multan on 13 February prior to the tournament opener between 2021 winners Multan Sultans and defending champions Lahore Qalandars; closing ceremony and final on 19 March in Lahore, which will also host play-offs
• Lahore Qalandars will attempt to become the first side to win back to back titles; Islamabad United will aim to become the most successful side by lifting the trophy thrice
• Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans and Islamabad United will play five home matches each, one against each side
• Rawalpindi will stage 11 fixtures, Karachi and Lahore will host nine matches each, Multan will have five home games
• Rawalpindi will host the only double-header on 7 March when Peshawar Zalmi will play Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United will take on Multan Sultans
• More than 36 foreign players representing 10 T20I playing countries will be in action in the 34-day, 34-match tournament
• T20 World Cup winners Adil Rashid and Matthew Wade, along with Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jimmy Neesham and Tabraiz Shamsi will make their debuts
• No.1 ranked Babar Azam will lead 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi for the first time; Imad Wasim will skipper 2020 winners Karachi Kings; Shadab Khan will captain two-time champions Islamabad United; Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain Lahore Qalandars; Mohammad Rizwan will skipper Multan Sultans and Sarfaraz Ahmed will captain 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators
• Shoaib Malik will return to Karachi Kings after six years; number-five ranked Rashid Khan will be back for Lahore Qalandars; Alex Hales will represent Islamabad United; Tim David will appear for Multan Sultans; Jason Roy will be in action for Quetta Gladiators; Bhanuka Rajapaksa will feature for Peshawar Zalmi

For details on the PSL 8 Squads, Click Here.

Earlier, it was reported that Quetta would host some matches for the Pakistan Super League 2023 or PSL 8, however, those rumors were squashed as PSL spokesperson announced that no matches will be held in Quetta.

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