Tag: Pakistan Super League

  • Here is what you need to know about PSL 7 draft, schedule

    Here is what you need to know about PSL 7 draft, schedule

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition will begin on January 27, 2022, with the draft to be held on December 12. The league, which begins about a month earlier than usual to make room for Australia’s upcoming tour in March-April, will have the final take place on February 27.

    “Following an opening ceremony, defending champions Multan Sultans will take on hosts and 2020 champions Karachi Kings at the National Stadium with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm” on January 27, a PCB press release said, adding that 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators would go toe to toe with 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi the following day.

    “After Karachi, which will host 15 matches from January 27 to February 7, action will shift to the Gaddafi Stadium where the remaining 15 league matches and the four play-offs will be played from February 10-27,” the PCB said.

    It will be the first time since 2017 when the headquarters of Pakistan cricket will host the PSL final.

    The National Stadium in Karachi had staged the league’s finals from 2018 to 2020, while Abu Dhabi was the venue for the 2021 final, where Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs.

    Speaking on the matter, PCB Chairperson Ramiz Raja said: “I am delighted that the HBL PSL 7 schedule has been announced. This will now get the ball rolling with the teams to start planning and finalising their line-ups and the PCB increasing the pace of the operational delivery to ensure they provide quality playing facilities for the players as well as a five-star experience to the fans and our valued commercial partners.”

    “The HBL PSL 7 will also kickstart what will be a bumper year for Pakistan cricket with the Australia men’s cricket team to play a full series in March-April with England men’s cricket side to tour Pakistan twice for white-ball and red-ball cricket,” Raja added.

    Player draft

    According to the press release, the PCB has decided to hold the player draft for the league at its National High Performance Centre in Lahore on December 12.

    “Each side will come to the draft with a maximum of eight-player retentions from the last event,” it further stated. “Following the finalisation of player categories, the transfer and retention window is now officially open and will close on December 10.”

    According to the press release, Lahore Qalandars will have the first pick in the Platinum category, Diamond category, Gold category and Emerging category, Peshawar Zalmi will have the first pick in the Silver category, and Quetta Gladiators will have the first pick in the Supplementary category.

    Local players’ category renewals

    The press release said the PCB, after a review and assessment process, had updated local players’ categories.

    “In the biggest moves, Pakistan wicketkeeper/batter and Multan Sultan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan (previously Silver), Asif Ali of Islamabad United (previously Gold) and Lahore Qalandars’ Haris Rauf (previously Diamond) have been placed in Platinum Category.”

    Moreover, Multan Sultans’ Sohaib Maqsood, who was named the Player of HBL PSL’s sixth edition, and Haider Ali of Peshawar Zalmi have moved up from Silver and Gold categories to Diamond category, respectively.

    Schedule for matches in Karachi:

    • Jan 27: Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans

    • Jan 28: Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi

    • Jan 29: Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars; Karachi Kings vsQuetta Gladiators

    • Jan 30: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United; Karachi Kings vsLahore Qalandars

    • Jan 31: Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans

    • Feb 1: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans

    • Feb 2: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars

    • Feb 3: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United

    • Feb 4: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi

    • Feb 5: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars; Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans

    • Feb 6: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United

    • Feb 7: Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars

    Schedule for matches in Lahore:

    • Feb 10: Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi

    • Feb 11: Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans

    • Feb 12: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators

    • Feb 13: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings; Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators

    • Feb 14: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings

    • Feb 15: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators

    • Feb 16: Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings

    • Feb 17: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi

    • Feb 18: Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators; Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings

    • Feb 19: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United

    • Feb 20: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings; Multan Sultans vsIslamabad United

    • Feb 21: Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi

    • Feb 23: Qualifier (1 vs 2)

    • Feb 24: Eliminator 1 (3 vs 4)

    • Feb 25: Eliminator 2 (Loser Qualifier 1 vs Winner Eliminator 1)

    • Feb 27: (Qualifier v Eliminator 2) Final

  • Imad Wasim wishes Babar ‘good luck’ for PSL 7 as Karachi Kings’ captain

    Imad Wasim wishes Babar ‘good luck’ for PSL 7 as Karachi Kings’ captain

    Pakistani cricketer and former captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings, Imad Wasim, has extended his good wishes to the newly appointed captain of the franchise, Babar Azam, for the upcoming seventh edition.

    Taking to Twitter, Imad thanked Salman Iqbal, saying: “I want to take a minute to thank @Salman_ary bhai and the whole @KarachiKingsARY family for entrusting me with the captaincy for 4 seasons! It’s been wonderful n I look forward to even bigger things for the team in the future.”

    Wishing well to the the all-format skipper Babar, he said: “Gudluck and best wishes to my brother @babarazam258.”

    Cricketer Umar Akmal also congratulated his cousin.

    The Kings, under the leadership of Imad Wasim, clinched their first PSL title in 2020.

    The seventh edition of PSL will be held in January and February 2022 with all matches taking place in Pakistan.

    Both Lahore and Karachi will host 17 matches each, with the finals to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

  • Babar Azam named captain of Karachi Kings for PSL 7

    Babar Azam named captain of Karachi Kings for PSL 7

    The all-format captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, will lead Karachi Kings in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is starting in January next year.

    Read More – 2020 Sports Roundup – Some losses, some gains

    The franchise confirmed the long-rumoured development on its official Twitter account on Tuesday.

    “Big announcement for Karachi Kings fans! Our national team skipper, the one and only Babar Azam, will now be the captain of Karachi Kings as well!”

    “This is such an honour for me that the whole team management, including Imad Bhai, has entrusted me with the captaincy of our beloved Karachi Kings team. This means the world to me,” Babar said in a video message attached with the tweet.

    “I have been playing for the Karachi Kings for the last five years, and this is like my home and family away from home.

    “I will work as hard as possible to take the team to even greater heights than what we’ve already achieved so far. My promise is that I will give it my all to make sure we keep on growing towards bigger and better things,” Azam said.

    The players’ draft for the seventh edition of the PSL is due for the second week of December while the tournament is likely to start in late January. Karachi and Lahore are expected to host 17 matches each with the playoffs and the final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    Earlier, under the leadership of all-round spinner Imad Wasim, the Kings won their first title, playing against their arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in 2020.

  • Why ‘big names’ don’t play PSL, furious Ramiz asks management

    Why ‘big names’ don’t play PSL, furious Ramiz asks management

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja and the franchises’ owners had a heated argument during a meeting recently to discuss about the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven, reported Samaa.

    Read More – Shahid Afridi reportedly to play for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2022

    The seventh edition of the league is all set to begin in mid-January next year, with drafts of the league expected to take place in the second week of December.

    The chairman had a heated exchange with the franchises owners, where Raja called them ‘intruders’.

    “PSL is our home and you guys are intruders,” a source inside the board quoted the PCB chairman. “You have destroyed windows and doors of our house.”

    Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omer replied that PSL is because of the franchises. “We are the investors of the league,” he said. “We have six successful seasons of the league and it is our home.”

    The PCB chairman asked players’ accusation and management committee member Imran Ahmed Khan that why renowned T20 cricketers like Australia’s Maxwell and other don’t play PSL.

    “We have invited them many times, but they refuse to play in Pakistan,” he replied.

    The board and the franchises owners disagreed over the salary cap set by the body for the upcoming edition of the league. Ramiz had asked the franchises to increase the salary cap to $1.2 million from $0.95 million.

    However, the franchises after a detailed argument with the PCB chief managed to keep the salary cap at $0.95 million for the PSL7.

  • Shahid Afridi reportedly to play for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2022

    Shahid Afridi reportedly to play for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2022

    Pakistan’s former captain Shahid Afridi will reportedly be playing for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators. Nadeem Omar, who is the owner of the Quetta Gladiators, had confirmed the same.

    Read More – ‘The problem I have with Shahid [Afridi]…’, Shoaib Akhtar tells all

    Earlier in June, Afridi, who has played for Omar’s Galle Gladiators in Sri Lanka Premier League (SPL), had himself stated that he would like to be a part of the Quetta Gladiators franchise in his last PSL season in 2022. And, this news was even confirmed by Azam Khan, who is the manager of the Quetta Gladiators.

    “If the franchise [Multan Sultans] releases me, I will prefer to represent the Quetta Gladiators in my last season,” Afridi had said in an interview. You can also see a tweet about Shahid Afridi playing for the Quetta Gladiators below.

    The player draft for the 2022 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will take place in the second week of December. But then, the manager of the Multan Sultans and COO, Haider Azhar has revealed that Afridi being released by the franchise has not been confirmed as of now.

    Afridi has played 50 matches in the PSL and has scalped 44 wickets. With the bat, Afridi has smashed 465 runs in his PSL career. He has played with Multan Sultans in the last season and spent two seasons at Peshawar Zalmi and one at Karachi Kings. If he shifts to Gladiators, it will be his fourth team in the league.

  • Sales you can avail to upgrade your winter wardrobe

    Sales you can avail to upgrade your winter wardrobe

    Winter will be here anytime soon so The Current has tried to make your shopping drill for winter easier by compiling a list of brands that are offering discounts. Don’t miss out on these sales for a chance to grab some steals.

    Cougar

    Cougar is offering flat 50 per cent off on their entire stock. You can avail amazing deals on their winter collection too.

    Website: https://www.cougar.com.pk/collections/women-winter?fbclid=IwAR3XssDlvpYIIazpasnL4TfjB8Dm2q9esnWrAZNaUPMDxFfKm8YpemaN1tM

    Sana Safinaz

    Sana Safinaz is offering up to 60 per cent off on selected stock, which also includes their winter collection.

    Website: https://www.sanasafinaz.com/pk/sale.html

    Breakout

    Break out is offering flat 50 per cent off on its entire stock, which does not include its new collection. You can get your hands on some amazing deals on Breakout’s last year’s winter collection.

    Website : https://breakout.com.pk/collections/flat-50-exclusive

    Stylo Shoes:

    Stylo has up to 51 per cent sale on footwear and pret collection.

    Website: https://stylo.pk/

    So Kamal:

    So Kamal is offering flat 60 and 70 per cent off on their entire stock, which also includes bags and other accessories.

    Website: https://www.sokamal.com/?fbclid=IwAR13zYRdL3AyLFCDepDRTsyj7x3cZybENz01tVk1_3JAGgA4nw2GAdZrf84

    Gul Ahmed/ Ideas

    Gul Ahmed is offering upto 70 per cent discount on a wide range of products.

    Website: https://www.gulahmedshop.com/

    Furor

    Furor is offering flat 50 per cent off in stores and online.

    Website: https://furorjeans.com/sale

  • Is Shahid Afridi replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed as Quetta Gladiators skipper next PSL?

    Is Shahid Afridi replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed as Quetta Gladiators skipper next PSL?

    Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar on Tuesday said that the previous Pakistan team Captain Shahid Afridi disclosed to him that he would join his Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise for the seventh period of the tournament.

    Read More – Afridi-led Rawalakot Hawks crowned champions of KPL 2021

    “Shahid Afridi has also remained a part of the Galle Gladiators (a team which Omar owns as well) in the Lankan Premier League,” the franchise owner told Geo News.

    Omar said former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is the incumbent captain, but if he were to voluntarily step down, “we can appoint Afridi in his place”.

    “In technique, Sarfaraz is number one,” Omar added.

    Quetta Gladiators’ dream of winning a second PSL title was snuffed out last month after they crashed out of the tournament after the Multan Sultans defeated them.

    The Sarfaraz-led side did not perform well in PSL 6, winning only two of the 10 matches they played in the tournament — finishing at the bottom of the points table.

  • PSL seven to be played in January-February 2022 to avoid clash with IPL

    PSL seven to be played in January-February 2022 to avoid clash with IPL

    The seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be played in Pakistan from January-February next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed after consulting the six franchises. The tournament is expected to start in early January and continue till the third week of February.

    As per the press release issued by PCB, the schedule has been drawn up despite a date clash with the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.

    Lahore and Karachi will host 17 matches each, with the final to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    The regular PSL window, since 2016, has been in February-March, but in 2022, Pakistan is hoping to host Australia. That forced PCB to work a window either before the series against Australia or after, and neither window was without its share of clashes. April-May clashes with the IPL, and that affects the broadcasting and commercial arrangements. It is also likely to affect player availability. That window will also overlap with the month of Ramzan.

    The January-February period isn’t free either, because the BBL takes place then, and a number of premier T20 players are expected to be occupied there. There is also the issue of the weather in the Punjab province of Pakistan, which tends to be foggy in winter. To deal with the weather, the PCB has decided to start the PSL in Karachi, which is in the Sindh province, in January, and then travel to Lahore, in Punjab, in February, when it is likely to be more conducive.

    The Covid-19 pandemic has hampered the PSL schedule for the past two seasons, as it has the cricket calendar around the world. The fifth and sixth editions of the tournament were both played in two chunks. The 2021 edition started in February in Pakistan but was postponed after 14 matches and completed in June in Abu Dhabi. In 2020, the tournament started on time in February, but though the league stage was completed by March, the playoffs could only be held in November.

    The seventh edition of the PSL will also have fresh broadcast and commercial partners after the previous deals concluded this year after a three-year run. The PCB has confirmed that it is presently working at a framework for the evaluation of the rights and their subsequent sale. The PCB is expected to hire an independent consultant to evaluate the value of the brand. In the last cycle, the PCB had secured a 358% rise in the broadcast deal, worth approximately USD 36 million.

  • Dale Steyn thanks Rumman Raees for birthday wish in a unique style

    Dale Steyn thanks Rumman Raees for birthday wish in a unique style

    Dale Steyn has thanked his former Islamabad United fellow cricketer Rumman Raees from Pakistan Super League ina unique style

    Raees took to Twitter and wished the speedster saying: “Number one and nothing rest, the legend. Happy Birthday Dale Steyn , stay blessed. Thanking the Pakistani bowler, Steyn shared his selfie with a framed photo with Raees when he had a fanboy moment with him and when Steyn used to played for Islamabad.

    It was a wholesome moment when Steyn gave Raees his jersey of IU and Raees gave him a framed picture of the two when he shared his fanboy moment with the South African pacer.

    Hassan Ali also wished his “favourite” bowler, appreciating him and calling him an inspiration.

  • Memes break the internet after Multan Sultans win PSL 6

    Multan Sultans won Pakistan Super League 6 (PSL 6) after defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs last night. As cricket lovers are happy for Multan Sultans’ maiden PSL victory and #Champions is trending on Twitter, here are some memes to celebrate their victory.

    https://twitter.com/Zi99Ham/status/1408140816573423621?s=20

    Read More: Firdous Ashiq Awan vs Qadir Mandokhel: Memes you can’t miss