ISLAMABAD โ The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to resume this weekend following a truce between Pakistan and India, marking a significant step forward in regional relations.
โPSL X picks up from where it left off! 6 teams, 0 fear,โ shared Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, on Tuesday. โLet the aura take over as we unite and celebrate the spirit of cricket,โ he added. Fans can look forward to eight thrilling matches beginning on May 17 and culminating with the Grand Final on May 25. Good luck to all the teams involved!
Last Saturday, Pakistan and India reached an agreement to de-escalate the tension stemming from their most serious military confrontation in years, paving the way for the cricket league to resume. The PSL, hosted in Pakistan, had been halted last Thursday after an Indian drone incident near the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was scheduled to host matches featuring international players from countries like Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, and Afghanistan.
Initially, the PSL organizers considered moving the event to Dubai, primarily due to concerns raised by foreign players about the security situation. However, the tournament was postponed as a precaution, with about 43 overseas players being evacuated from Pakistan from an airbase in Rawalpindi.
While the stage is now set for the remaining eight games, it remains uncertain how many foreign athletes will return to participate. These matches are slated to be played across venues in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Among the teams, Quetta Gladiators have already secured their place in the playoffs, sitting comfortably at the top of the leaderboard with 13 points. Teams like Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, and Peshawar Zalmi are all vying for the remaining three playoff spots. Meanwhile, Multan Sultans, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, have already been knocked out of the playoff race after suffering losses in eight of their nine league encounters.
In a related development, the Indian Premier League (IPL), known as the worldโs most lucrative T20 league, has announced its own resumption. The IPL tournament will run from Saturday and stretch until June 3.