Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating holding a PSL 8 exhibition match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators ahead of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). According to the reports, the fixture is expected to be played on Kashmir Day. The new PCB management committee under Najam Sethi wants to engage fans all across the country.
Soon after taking charge as PCB head, Sethi announced to include Quetta as the fifth venue for the PSL 2023. Currently, the PCB is in consultation with production and marketing teams and officials also visited the stadium in Quetta. Both current national captain Babar Azam and former Test captain Sarfaraz Ahmed are anticipated to captain their respective teams in the exhibition game.
PSL 8 exhibition match:
The nation’s biggest cricket festival Pakistan Super League is set to begin its eighth edition, which is scheduled to take place from February 13th to March 19th. It is expected to be taken place in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan. The PCB’s new management committee, chaired by Najam Sethi, is committed to engaging fans nationwide. Soon after putting on the charge as chairman of the management committee, Sethi declared to include Quetta. It is subject to safety clearance as the 5th venue to host PSL’s eighth season. Meanwhile, to include Quetta fans, PCB has confirmed to host their PSL 8 exhibition match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on 5th February, which is observed as “Kashmir Day” countrywide.
According to the sources, in consultation with production and marketing teams, PCB recced Quetta’s only cricket stadium last weekend. The board is working to figure out a budget to host only the exhibition matches in the city. In collaboration with safety officials, PCB is committed to giving high-quality cricket action to fans. Sources said that development work at Bugti Stadium is in full form. The beautiful ground, which hosted only ODI earlier in 1996, will host international standard cricket matches after a huge gap.
Gladiators vs Zalmi
Gladiators’ officials also confirmed that a full-strength Pakistani contingent would participate in the exhibition game against Zalmi. The representative said, “We are too excited to play a match at our home for the first time,”. He also added, “It is a good step taken by PCB; Quetta fans are desperately waiting for this match, and so do we. We are hopeful that all our Pakistani players will participate in this contest. There are a lot of challenges we have to face while hosting this match. Fingers crossed; I hope everything goes well”.
However, there will also be three women’s exhibition matches played in Rawalpindi on the 8th, 10th and 11th of March. The tournaments will be played as doubleheaders, with the women’s games taking place in the afternoon and the men’s games afterwards in the evening.
Squads in the exhibition match based on Pakistani players:
Quetta Gladiators: Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Naseem Shah, Ahsan Ali, Umaid Asif, Abdul Bangalzai, Muhammad Zahid, Omair Bin Yousuf, Aimal Khan.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Wahab Riaz, Aamir Jamal, Danish Aziz, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Sufyan Muqeem, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Haseeb Ullah
PSL schedule 2023:
Apart from the PSL 8 exhibition match, here we find the latest complete league schedule with date, time and venue. PSL 8’s event will be played in Pakistan’s major cities, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. Six teams are participating in PSL 2023. The Pakistan Super League opening ceremony and the first match will be held in the home of Multan Sultans, at Multan Cricket Stadium.
According to the source, the opening ceremony will be held there. The first match will also be between Multan Sultans and the defending Champions, Lahore Qalandars, at Multan Cricket Stadium. Multan will host the opening ceremony for the very first time in PSL history. Thirty-four matches will be played in the 8th edition of PSL 2023, which has been shared between 4 venues.
Last words:
Every six teams will enter the PSL 8 with a lot at stake. Islamabad United will target to become the most successful team in PSL with three titles. Lahore Qalandars will make an attempt to become the first side to win back-to-back championship titles, and the remaining four teams will once again try to put a hand on the glittering silverware. It makes for an exciting, enthralling and entertaining 34-match tournament. However, the PSL 8 exhibition match is going to be an exciting one for cricket fans all around the world.
