Former captain Shahid Afridi highlighted the significance of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine ahead of the T20 World Cup this year.
Afridi believes that PSL 9, which begins today, will be key in terms of selecting Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup.
The flamboyant all-rounder also said that PSL is his favourite T20 league in the world.
It must be noted that Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United are all set to go head-to-head in the opening encounter of the PSL 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Islamabad have won the title two times, 2016 and 2018, while Lahore are the defending champions and are in pursuit of their third successive title after recording impressive wins in 2022 and 2023. Both teams will look to start the new season of the PSL with a blast. With a number of quality players on both sides, an epic showdown is expected between two powerhouses of the league.
The two sides have met for a total of 17 times with Islamabad having a slight edge with 9 wins. However, Lahore have dominated their counterparts since 2021 as they won all five encounters between them.
Like the previous edition, the PSL 9 will take place in two legs with Multan Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting 14 matches between them from February 17 to 27. The action then moves to Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, where 16 matches will be held from February 28 to March 12. The event will then move to Karachi in its entirety for the playoffs.
Teams like Kings, Qalandars, Sultans, and United will play five matches at their respective home grounds, while Peshawar Zalmi will play four matches at Pindi Cricket Stadium. Quetta Gladiators, on the other hand, will play three matches each in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, with one match at Multan Cricket Stadium against the home side Sultans on February 25.
- Shahid Afridi