Lots of cricket series commence this week. India are playing two Tests in New Zealand after six years, Australia women are hosting the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup for the first time, Australia men are touring South Africa for the first time since the “Sandpapergate” saga. However, there is also a popular growing domestic T20 league starting that is unique in comparison to the many other T20 leagues that take place. It is worth keeping a close eye on too. I explain why below:
All matches in Pakistan
In the first season there were no matches on Pakistani soil. The solitary match in the second edition was the final on a historic night in Lahore. In the third season there were three matches held in Pakistan with the final heading to Karachi this time around. In the fourth season all eight matches were held in Karachi due to political tensions happening close to the Indian border at the time. Now, for the first time, all 34 matches will be held at home across Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan between 20th February and 22nd March. This is a major achievement for the Pakistan Cricket Board in their ambition to bring regular top flight cricket back to their homeland. It has been a long and gradual process. But for now at least, it seems that hosting the PSL on neutral grounds is firmly a thing of the past.
T20 World Cup year
Places are up for grabs when the sixteen competing nations at this year’s world event have to name their 15 man squads. Performances in tournament cricket in front of passionate supporters and under the pressures of franchise expectation that you get in tournaments like the PSL will undoubtedly be taken into consideration by the national selectors.
Matches in Multan
Some feel it is the premier cricketing venue in Pakistan such as former Pakistan Coach Geoff Lawson who has spoken highly of the facilities in South Punjab. No internationals or PSL games have happened there since some high profile cricket has returned to Pakistan in May 2015. Tours since then such as Zimbabwe in 2015, World XI in 2017, Sri Lanka for a one off T20I in 2017, West Indies in 2018, Sri Lanka in 2019, Bangladesh in 2020 and the 12 PSL matches held in Pakistan up to now haven’t seen Multan host any games in those events. This PSL is the start of a reintroduction for Multan in staging major cricket matches.
New faces and voices in the commentary panel
Mark Butcher has never commentated in the league before and will bring an English perspective, good humour and plenty of broadcasting experience to the table. Dominic Cork also makes his PSL commentary debut and significantly, returns to Pakistan for the first time since those awful events of 2009 where he was working as a commentator. Former Pakistan Women’s Captain at the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup in Urooj Mumtaz will also be behind the mic.
Short tournament
This has been a criticism of tournaments such as the IPL and Big Bash which go on too long. The PSL is only 34 matches long compared to 60 matches in the IPL. This is the advantage of having just six teams. Public interest and excitement is generally maintained throughout. It only lasts a little over a month.
English Interest
A variety of England players are participating such as Alex Hales (Karachi Kings), Chris Jordan (Karachi Kings), James Vince (Multan Sultans), Tymal Mills (Quetta Gladiators), Dawid Malan (Islamabad United), Jason Roy (Quetta Gladiators), Phil Salt (Islamabad United), Samit Patel (Lahore Qalandars), Tom Banton (Peshawar Zalmi), Liam Dawson (Peshawar Zalmi), Moeen Ali (Multan Sultans) and Sussex new recruit Ravi Bopara (Multan Sultans). The tournament comes at a good time of the year without clashing into the start of the domestic summer at home for county cricketers or players not necessarily involved in all three international formats to play in. From an English point of view, this tournament is certainly one to watch closely as players gear up for the start of a big year and hope to find their feet before the summer at home where a lot of white ball cricket is due to take place thanks now to the introduction of The Hundred.
Sarfraz Ahmed
He will have a point or two to prove after being unceremoniously axed as Pakistan’s T20I national captain despite winning 11 of his 13 series in charge in this format. Sarfraz will be leading Quetta’s defence in the opening match of the tournament in his home city.
Sharjeel Khan’s Comeback
The dashing left hander returns to the game after his well-documented absence and subsequent punishment and rehabilitation. Can he redeem himself and let the bat do the talking? He has an impressive record in Australia and a strong campaign here will certainly not go unnoticed with regards to T20 World Cup selection down the line.
Lahore finally actually playing in Lahore
Lahore have never played in Lahore before. That will be changing in this edition. The prospect of Lahore vs Karachi as the two major traditional cricket rivals in Pakistan locking horns home and away promises to be an enthralling prospect that will show the HBL PSL in its entire glory.
IPL Ban
Pakistan players have been absent from the most popular domestic T20 league after the inaugural edition in 2008. This is a chance to watch players from the top ranked T20I nation in a glitz and glamour dominated franchise environment where they are all available to participate in. Given their IPL absence, for Pakistan players the PSL is very much their “big thing” in the T20 domestic calendar.
Conclusion
Overall it promises to be an exciting 32 days of top quality T20 cricket. Islamabad United have been the most successful franchise winning two editions, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi have both made the final on three occasions each and got over the line once each, Karachi Kings have qualified for the play offs each time, but fallen short of making the final whereas Lahore Qalandars or late entrants Multan Sultans are still searching for their first appearance in the play offs. However, one wonders how big a factor home advantage might be in this edition and how last year’s finalists in Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi may fare without getting to experience home advantage and support like the other four franchises. How big a factor that will be might just be the most fascinating aspect of this upcoming edition.
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