All About PSL 8: Pakistan Super League 2023

Introduction

The 2023 Pakistan Super League (also known as PSL 8 or, for sponsorship reasons, HBL PSL 2023) will be the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League, a franchise Twenty20cricket league that was established by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2015. Then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had hinted at an auction-based system to replace the draft for the 2023 version of the tournament but the draft was retained. The draft for the tournament was held on 15 December in Karachi. A total of 36 foreign players were picked alongside local players. The tournament is scheduled to take place from 13 February to 19 March 2023. The opening ceremony of PSL 8 will be held in Multan on 13 February prior to the tournament opener between 2021 winners Multan Sultans and defending champions Lahore Qalandars; the closing ceremony and final on 19 March in Lahore, which will also host play-offs. Rawalpindi will stage 11 fixtures, Karachi and Lahore will host nine matches each, and Multan will have five home games.

Squads

In November 2022, the retained player’s list was announced. Squads for the tournament were finalized on 15 December with the final draft. More than 36 foreign players representing 10 T20I playing countries will be in action in the 34-day, 34-match tournament. T20 World Cup 2022 winners Adil Rashid and Matthew Wade, along with Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jimmy Neesham, and Tabraiz Shamsi will make their debuts in PSL 8. No.1 ranked Babar Azam will lead 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi for the first time; Imad Wasim will skipper 2020 winners Karachi Kings; Shadab Khan will captain two-time champions Islamabad United; Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain Lahore Qalandars; Mohammad Rizwan will skipper Multan Sultans and Sarfaraz Ahmed will captain 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators. Shoaib Malik will return to Karachi Kings after six years and number-five-ranked Rashid Khan will be back for Lahore Qalandars.

Venues

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced plans to hold matches in Multan, Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi during the 2023 season. Lahore and Karachi were also the venues in 2022. Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar was later declared unfit to hold any matches in the tournament. Quetta’s Bugti Stadium was later added to the list of PSL venues but was removed shortly after due to logistical reasons. The opening ceremony will be held in Multan on 13 February prior to the tournament opener between 2021 winners Multan Sultans and defending champions Lahore Qalandars; the closing ceremony and final on 19 March in Lahore, which will also host play-offs.

Marketing & Logo

The season’s logo variant was unveiled on 26 January with the hashtags #HBLPSL8 and #SabSitarayHamaray being used for promotion on social media. The slogan for this season had originally been ‘Soch Hai Apki’ but was later changed to ‘Sab Sitaray Hamaray’.

Anthem

On 7 February 2023, the PCB announced that Asim Azhar, Shae Gill, and Faris Shafi would be singing the 2023 PSL anthem and Abdullah Siddiqui would be producing it. It was earlier reported that Ali Sethi would be singing the anthem but was removed once his father became PCB chairman due to a possible conflict of interest.

Last Time Winners

In the last PSl season, 7 Lahore won the final against Multan Sultans after playing a remarkable match with the sultans. That time Lahore won the PSL trophy for the first time. Now Lahore Qalandars will have a chance to become the first side to win back-to-back titles whereas Islamabad United will aim to become the most successful side by lifting the trophy thrice.

Matches Schedule

Afternoon matches will start at 2pm; evening matches in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will start at 7pm. Evening matches in Multan will begin at 6pm except for the tournament opener, which will commence at 8pm.