After a long break away from cricket, the sun has finally risen on the fans. The new year, 2021 has come up with a lot of promises. After all, it’s the year of the ICC T20 World Cup. This year, the T20 format will be on the rise throughout. The teams have started to expand their T20 matches to prepare for the upcoming World Cup. However, another great way to practice for the players is by playing in the T20 leagues, and what better a league than the Pakistan Super League.
Eventually, the Big Bash League (BBL) is going on in Australia. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has started in India. There are a lot of international T20 matches scheduled throughout the year. Besides all these, the sixth edition of PSL is about to kick-off from 20th Feb 2021. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the complete PSL 2021 teams and schedule, and the tournament is expected to be the best out of all the editions. PSL, only after five seasons, is right up there with some of the best T20 leagues in the world, like the IPL or the BBL.
Undoubtedly, there are many reasons for the success of PSL. First up, it’s the quality of the competition. The Super League has always been very competitive and the matches have been tight and thrilling, with some jaw-dropping action. Some top T20 cricketers will be taking part in the league this season, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Chris Lynn, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Dale Steyn, Rashid Khan, and more.
PSL Action to begin from February 20th
As the complete schedule has been announced by the PCB, the inaugural match is set to be played between the defending champions, Karachi Kings, and the two-time finalists & 2019 winners, Quetta Gladiators. The match will be played on the 20th of February to kick-off the tournament, at the National Stadium, Karachi. The match will start at 7 PM PST.
The starting 20 group matches will be hosted by the National Stadium in Karachi. Subsequently, we will shift to the Gaddafi Stadium for the remaining matches. All the last 10 group games and all 4 of the knockout ones will be played in Lahore.
As far as the crowd in the stadiums is concerned, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mr. Ehsan Mani, has stated that they will consult the government, and will try to bring even a limited crowd for the matches. However, we’ll only get to know this, once the decision is taken.
“Super Excited to be a Part of PSL” – Rashid Khan
What will make a T20 league even better than it was before? Yes, it’s the inclusion of the T20I Player of the Decade. Rashid Khan, who recently received the very award, is going to be a part of the Pakistan Super League for the very first time.
Khan, in a recent tweet, expressed his excitement about becoming part of the league. The tweet read:
“I’m super excited to be part of PSL this year and play for Lahore Qalandars will be a totally different experience for me first time #PSL looking forward for a great season ahead see you soon #Qalandars”
Rashid Khan, 22, has played T20 leagues all around the world and is known as a leg-spin genius. Besides, his batting skills are not bad at all. He has all the shots in his book, whether they be flicks, scoops, or his favorite, the helicopter shots. Hopefully, he will prove out to be a great addition to the Lahore Qalandars squad, as they still look to win their first-ever PSL title.
