Holders Karachi take on Quetta in PSL season opener

The defending champions Karachi Kings will open the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a match against 2019 winners Quetta Gladiators in Karachi on Saturday, just three months later, after defeating archrivals Lahore Qalandars in the final in November, after the PSL playoffs were postponed due to COVID-19 in last March.

The six-team event also features two-time champions Islamabad United, last year’s third-place finisher Multan Sultans and 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi.

Several leading international Twenty20 cricketers will be in action over a month-long tournament with Chris Gayle, Ben Dunk, Chris Lynn and world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan.

Karachi will host the first 20 league games while Lahore will host the remaining 14 matches, including the final on March 22.

Spectators will return to cricket stadiums in Pakistan for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began when the tournament begins.

The government has allowed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to admit 20% capacity of fans inside the stadiums for the country’s premier Twenty20 league, maintaining proper social distancing and making masks mandatory for spectators.

The decision meant National Stadium in Karachi will accommodate 7,500 fans and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium 5,500.

“Without crowd there was no enjoyment,” said Quetta’s wicketkeeper/batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed. “It’s the great news that we will be playing in front of our own crowds after a long time.”

During the pandemic, the PCB successfully hosted two international series - against Zimbabwe and South Africa - in empty stadiums besides organising more than 200 domestic cricket matches in a bio-secure bubble.

More than 120 players, 60 support staff and about a dozen match officials will remain in a biosecure bubble for the tournament.

“COVID-19 and cricket can co-exist, provided we follow the proper protocols,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said.

Mani admitted that a large number of fans will be disappointed due to limited seating available both in Karachi and Lahore. However, the government will review crowd capacity at Karachi’s Gaddafi Stadium before the playoffs and the final in Lahore next month.

Karachi will be among the favorites for the title with Pakistan T20 regular Imad Wasim leading the side. They have an ideal set of openers - Pakistan Twenty20 skipper Babar Azam and hard-hitting batsman Sharjeel Khan. They also have experienced bowler Mohammad Amir and Afghanistan offspinner Mohammad Nabi.

Agencies