As the Pakistan Super League gets underway, rain can have a cruel joke on us. The meteorological department predicted the possibility of rains in the next several days as Punjab’s capital city, Lahore, gets ready for PSL season 9.
In Murree, twin cities (Islamabad/Rawalpindi) and Lahore, moderate to heavy rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected from February 17th (night) to February 21st. Hailstorms that are isolated might potentially happen around this time.
Today, fans will be focused on both the opening ceremony and the opening game. The PSL anthem for Season 9 was performed by Ali Zafar and Aima Baig, carrying on the annual practice of releasing a new song.
In PSL 2024, the reigning champion Lahore Qalandars hope to win the championship three times in a row. Their goal is to start the competition with a victory. Fortunately, they are leading Islamabad United, whom they easily defeated in their two meetings with them the previous season.
In both games versus Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars scored 200 or more points. Lahore scored a first-inning total of 200-7 against the opposition. Islamabad United was eventually knocked out for just ninety. Lahore Qalandars secured a 110-run victory.
The initial meeting was replicated in the second as well. Lahore, who had batted first in the match, scored 226 runs to 5 and then bowled them out in the second innings. With ease, they won by 119 runs. They’ll aim for a performance akin to that versus Islamabad United.
PSL 9 will be held in four cities — Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi — with the final of the event taking place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on March 18.
Like the previous edition, the PSL 9 will take place in two legs with Multan Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting 14 matches between them from February 17 to 27.
The action then moves to Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, where 16 matches will be held from February 28 to March 12. The event will then move to Karachi in its entirety for the playoffs.
A highly anticipated clash between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings is scheduled for 24 February and 9 March. Gaddafi Stadium will host the February 24 encounter, while the National Bank Stadium will be the venue for the Qalandars and Kings match on March 9.
