The head of Pakistan cricket believes the “overall health of the country” will receive a boost from the Pakistan Super League being played there in its entirety for the first time.
During the UAE leg of the PSL last year, Ehsan Mani signalled that he intended for the T20 league to be played in full in its homeland in future, starting in 2020.
On Wednesday it was confirmed that all 34 matches of the 2020 season will be played across four venues in Pakistan.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host 14 matches, the National Stadium in Karachi will stage nine, with Rawalpindi scheduled to host eight, and Multan three.
“I never had any doubts it was Pakistan’s league and should be played in front of home crowds,” Mani, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said.
“We had made this commitment to the people of Pakistan at the end of last year’s event and I am pleased we have announced the event schedule with four centres to share the 34 event matches between them.”
The whole of the first season of PSL was staged in UAE in 2016, with Islamabad United winning the final in Dubai.
Since then, the competition has gradually been phased back to Pakistan. The final was staged in Lahore in 2017.
The playoff phase was staged between Karachi and Lahore a year later, while even some of the league phase was played there when Quetta Gladiators became champions last year.
As many as 425 overseas players from 22 countries – including nine from UAE – had expressed their willingness to play this season, according to Mani.
“This shows the confidence that players throughout the world have in playing in Pakistan,” Mani said.
“Through this event, we expect economy and tourism to get significant boost, which will have a direct impact on the overall health of the country.
“For the fans, this will be a long-awaited opportunity to see their cricketing heroes live in action and reinforce their love for this great game.
“I am expecting like last year, the entire country will get behind this tournament and by turning up in big numbers, they will once again show the world their passion for cricket.
Quetta will begin their title defence when they play two-time champions Islamabad on the opening night in Karachi on February 20.
The final is scheduled to take place in Lahore on March 22.
Schedule
Feb 20 - Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, Karachi
Feb 21 - Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi; Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Lahore
Feb 22 - Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Lahore
Feb 23 - Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, Karachi; Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Lahore
Feb 26 - Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan
Feb 27 - Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi
Feb 28 - Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan; Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi
Feb 29 - Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan; Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi
Mar 1 - Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi
Mar 2 - Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi
Mar 3 - Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, Lahore
Mar 4 - Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Lahore
Mar 5 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi
Mar 6 - Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, Lahore
Mar 7 - Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Rawalpindi; Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore
Mar 8 - Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Rawalpindi; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Lahore
Mar 10 - Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore
Mar 11 - Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Lahore
Mar 12 - Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi
Mar 13 - Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Karachi
Mar 14 - Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, Karachi
Mar 15 - Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Lahore; Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Karachi
Mar 17 - Qualifier (1 v 2), Karachi
Mar 18 - Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), Lahore
Mar 20 - Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), Lahore
Mar 22 – Final, Lahore
