Lahore Dec 14, 2018: The countdown to the start of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 began today as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the schedule of the event, which will kick-off with the tournament opener between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars in Dubai on February 14, 2019 and culminate with the final in Karachi on March 17, 2019.
Thirty-four (34) matches will be played in the fourth edition and for the first time in the short history of this highly successful and much-awaited tournament, Lahore and Karachi will share eight matches between them at the backend of the 32-day event.
Karachi’s National Stadium will host the first of their five matches on March 7, 2019 when Karachi Kings will take on Peshawar Zalmi under lights.
The other four matches will be: Karachi Kings versus Quetta Gladiators on March 10, 2019, Qualifier 1 versus Qualifier 2 on March 13, 2019, Eliminator 2 on March 15, 2019 and the final on March 17, 2019.
The iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be the venue of three matches, namely:
Lahore Qalandars versus Islamabad United on March 9, 2019, Lahore Qalandars versus the Sixth team on March 10, 2019 and Eliminator 1 (3 v 4) on March 12, 2019.
According to the event format, each side will play the other twice with the top-four after30 event matches advancing to the play-offs.
In the March 13, 2019 Qualifier, the table-toppers will play the second-placed side with the winner progressing to the final.
The losing side will get a second chance to qualify for the final when, in the March 15, 2019 Eliminator 2, they will play the winner of March 12, 2019 Eliminator 1, which will be between the third and fourth-placed sides.
“The PCB believes the HBL Pakistan Super League is a gateway to resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.
By successfully staging eight matches in Lahore and Karachi with the support of the local authorities, the PCB is optimistic that it will once again prove to the world that Pakistan is as safe and secure a place as any other part of the world to play international cricket.
“The PCB would like to thank its esteemed commercial partners, including title sponsors HBL, for their continued support and patronage.
Without the involvement and commitment of the sponsors, no event can be organised successfully.
South Africa’s AB de Villiers and Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe, who will wear Lahore Qalandars’ kits, and Steve Smith of Australia, who will represent the sixth team, are three of the 19 players expected to make their PSL debuts in 2019.
The others 16 in HBL Pakistan Super League: Fawad Ahmed, Qais Ahmed, Corey Anderson, Ian Bell, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Laurie Evans, Harry Gurney, Liam Livingstone, Wayne Madsen, Tom Moores, Sandeep Lamichanne, Wayne Parnell, Sikander Raza, WaqarSalamkheil and Phil Salt.
Foreign players to feature in HBL PSL 2019 are:
Afghanistan – Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad, Waqar Salamkheil
Australia – Fawad Ahmed, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Steve Smith, Aaron Summers, Shane Watson
England – Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Liam Dawson, Joe Denly, Laurie Evans, Harry Gurney, Chris Jordon, Liam Livingstone, Wayne Madsen, Dawid Malan, Tom Moores, Samit Patel
New Zealand – Corey Anderson, Anton Devcich, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi
Nepal – Sandeep Lamichhane & Wales – Phil Salt
South Africa – AB de Villiers, Colin Ingram, Cameron Delport, Wayne Parnell, Rilee Rossouw
West Indies – Dwayne Bravo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy
Zimbabwe – Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor.
Teams’ performance at a glance:
| Teams | Span | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied/Won | Tied/Lost | No-Result | Win % |
| Islamabad United | 2016 – to date | 32 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60.93 |
| Karachi King | 2016 – to date | 31 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41.66 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 2016 – to date | 26 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34.61 |
| 6th Team* | 2018 – to date | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44.44 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 2016 – to date | 34 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 57.57 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2016 – to date | 31 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 56.66 |
*Multan Sultans have been replaced by the sixth team. Following the conclusion of the tender process, the team’s rights will be sold to the highest bidder.
To knowmore about the HBL Pakistan Super League, please click here. —- PCB
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