The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially released the comprehensive schedule for the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), which promises to be the most expansive and exciting season yet. The tournament will feature a total of 44 high-stakes matches spread over six different venues, running from 26 March through to 3 May. This season marks a significant milestone as the PSL expands to include eight teams, with Faisalabad and Peshawar hosting PSL matches for the very first time, thereby broadening the league’s footprint across Pakistan.
In a notable development, the league has welcomed two fresh franchises: Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi Pindiz. These teams join the established six sides—Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators—bringing the total to eight competitors vying for the coveted PSL trophy. The newly added teams were acquired in the recent HBL PSL Auction, with Hyderabad Kingsmen purchased for PKR 175 crore and Rawalpindi Pindiz for PKR 245 crore, reflecting growing investor confidence in the league’s potential and popularity.
The competition format has been structured so that each team will face off in 10 matches during the group stage. Following this, the top four teams will advance to the knockout rounds, which will consist of Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and culminate with the grand Final. These decisive matches are scheduled between 28 April and 3 May. The grand finale is set to take place at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, 3 May, with a reserve day planned for Monday, 4 May, to account for any weather interruptions. This venue has a storied history with the PSL, having hosted the league’s first-ever match on Pakistani soil in 2017 and the finals in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Gaddafi Stadium will be a central hub for PSL action this season, hosting a total of 15 matches including the tournament opener on 26 March, where Lahore Qalandars will face off against the new entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen. The stadium will also feature three double-header days, providing fans with back-to-back matches on 29 March, 19 April, and 25 April. Lahore Qalandars, the reigning champions from the last three seasons (2022, 2023, and 2025), are expected to play at least five games at this venue, including a highly anticipated clash against Karachi Kings on 29 March.
Meanwhile, the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, formerly known as Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, is set to host its maiden PSL match on 28 March when Peshawar Zalmi take on Rawalpindi Pindiz in an afternoon fixture. This stadium has not seen international cricket in two decades, with the last ODI played there being Pakistan versus India on 6 February 2006. Currently active as a National T20 Cup venue, it is poised to become a key location for PSL matches moving forward.
Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium will also make its PSL debut by hosting seven matches this season. The defending champions Lahore Qalandars will feature in four of these games, while Peshawar Zalmi, the 2017 champions, will play three matches here. Faisalabad’s inaugural PSL fixture is slated for Thursday, 9 April, with Lahore Qalandars facing Islamabad United in an afternoon encounter. This inclusion signals the PCB’s ongoing efforts to decentralize cricket and bring top-level matches to more cities across the country.
Multan Cricket Stadium will host four evening matches, all involving the home team Multan Sultans, winners of the 2021 PSL edition. Their first game at this venue will be on Wednesday, 1 April, against Hyderabad Kingsmen. The National Bank Stadium in Karachi, a venue rich in PSL history having hosted finals in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2024, will stage six matches this season. Karachi Kings and Hyderabad Kingsmen will each play three matches here, while Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United will share two matches apiece. The opening match at this venue is set for 8 April, featuring Hyderabad Kingsmen versus Peshawar Zalmi. A budding rivalry between Karachi Kings and Hyderabad Kingsmen is also expected to draw significant attention when they meet on 11 April.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will be hosting 11 matches, including an important Qualifier game. This stadium, which hosted ICC Champions Trophy fixtures last year, will also see two double-header days on 2 April and 26 April. With the addition of Rawalpindi Pindiz and Islamabad United as home teams, the venue will see six matches featuring Islamabad United and five featuring Rawalpindi Pindiz. These two teams will face off twice during the group phase, with their first encounter scheduled for 4 April and the second on 23 April, adding local flavor and excitement to the competition.
Overall, the 11th edition of the PSL is shaping up to be an exhilarating tournament with expanded participation, new venues, and a packed schedule designed to captivate cricket fans nationwide. With the league continuing to grow in stature and reach, the anticipation is building for what promises to be a memorable season of high-quality T20 cricket across Pakistan.
