UAE to host 26 Pakistan Super League matches next year

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UAE to host 26 Pakistan Super League matches next year
Peshawar Zalmi's Umaid Asif celebrates after dismissing Luke Ronchi of Islamabad United in the 2018 Pakistan Super League at Dubai Cricket Stadium

Dubai - Thirty-four matches will be played in the fourth edition

By Staff Report

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Published: Fri 14 Dec 2018, 4:24 PM

Last updated: Fri 14 Dec 2018, 7:48 PM

The countdown to the start of the 2019 Pakistan Super League began on Friday as the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the schedule for the event, which will kick-off with the tournament opener in Dubai on February 14 and culminate with the final in Karachi on March 17, a press release said.
Thirty-four matches will be played in the fourth edition and for the first time in the short history of this highly successful tournament, Lahore and Karachi will share eight matches between them at the backend of the 32-day event.

Karachi's National Stadium will host the first of their five matches on March 7 when Karachi Kings will take on Peshawar Zalmi under lights. The other four matches will be: Karachi Kings versus Quetta Gladiators on March 10, Qualifier 1 versus Qualifier 2 on March 13, Eliminator 2 on March 15 and the final on March 17.
The iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host three matches - Lahore Qalandars versus Islamabad United on March 9, Lahore Qalandars versus the 6th team on March 10 and Eliminator 1 (3 v 4) on March 12. 
All three matches will be played under floodlights.
In addition to the Gaddafi Stadium and National Stadium, 14 matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, four matches will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and eight matches will be staged at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
According to the event format, each side will play the other twice with the top four teams advancing to the play-offs. 
South Africa's AB de Villiers and Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe, who will wear Lahore Qalandars' colours, and Steve Smith of Australia, who will represent the sixth team, are three of the 19 players expected to make their PSL debuts in 2019.
The others 16 are Fawad Ahmed, Qais Ahmed, Corey Anderson, Ian Bell, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Laurie Evans, Harry Gurney, Liam Livingstone, Wayne Madsen, Tom Moores, Sandeep Lamichanne, Wayne Parnell, Sikander Raza, Waqar Salamkheil and Phil Salt.
"PSL is one of the most entertaining but difficult tournaments in which each match counts. You have to turn up at the top of your game every time you step onto the field so that you stay clear of the danger zone," said Waqar Younis, the mentor of Islamabad United. 
"Islamabad United have a talented and all-round side, with each and every member capable of consistently producing match-winning performances. I have no doubts that the 2019 event will be a great spectacle and I urge all the spectators and fans to play their part in making this a successful event."
 


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