PSL 2023 – PCB includes Quetta as venues for the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League

In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to include Quetta’s Bugti Stadium among the venues to host the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The eighth edition of the league, scheduled to run from February 13 to March 19, will now be played across five venues: Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Rawalpindi and Quetta.

“I am delighted that seven years after the launch of the Pakistan Super League, I am today announcing our commitment to add the Bugti Stadium in Quetta as the fifth venue for our marquee event,” Najam Sethi, Chairman, PCB Management Committee, said. “Bugti Stadium is the Home ground of Quetta Gladiators and we still remember the incredible scenes when the Gladiators visited the city after winning the 2019 tournament.

“The passionate cricket fans of Ketta have been waiting for a long time to watch high profile cricket in their backyard and I am delighted that we are now bringing the HBL PSL 8 matches to their doorsteps. In this regard, I have already spoken to influential players in the province of Balochistan who have assured me of their full support from the point of view of organizing the events. “

Quetta has hosted domestic cricket since 1954, but has often been neglected due to lack of infrastructure and security situation over the years. Cricket has historically not been as popular in Balochistan as in the rest of Pakistan, and only one player from the province, opener Shoaib Khan, has played for Pakistan – he played four T20Is in the T20 Quadrangular in Canada in 2008.

The stadium has hosted domestic games since 1954, but not continuously, and the venue has been overlooked for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s most important first-class competition, for 27 consecutive years between 1977 and 2004. After 12 years. During its absence from 2007 to 2019, it hosted four first-class games in 2019. One of the main reasons for the stadium’s occasional use has been the weather – Pakistan’s domestic season runs from October to March, with winter temperatures in Quetta ranging from around 4-6 degrees Celsius,

The Balochistan government has also announced a festival match on February 5 between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi ahead of the PSL. To ensure that the Bugti Stadium is ready to host PSL games, the PCB will involve the provincial government and local government in upgrading and renovating the stadium. The PCB also opens separate discussions with the relevant authorities about safety clearances.