PSL to begin with Zalmi-United clash

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday unveiled the schedule of the second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In the 27-day event, 18 matches among five teams will be played.  Peshawar Zalmi, defending champions Islamabad United, last season’s runners-up Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars will be vying for the crown.

The outfits were finalised from a pool of 414 players during a ceremony in Dubai last month.

The opening game of the competitions will be held between Darren Sammy-led Peshawar Zalmi and Misbah-ul-Haq-led Islamabad United, who are being coached by former Australian top order batsman Dean Jones.

The teams will play each other on a double league basis. The top four sides will play in play-offs. The first play-off will be held between the leading two outfits.  The second will be conducted between the third and fourth-placed sides.

Schedule:

February 9: Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United (Dubai)

February 10: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators (Dubai), Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi (Dubai) February 11: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars (Dubai), Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings (Dubai)

February 12: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars (Dubai)

February 15: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators (Sharjah) February 16: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Sharjah)

February 17: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (Sharjah), Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United (Sharjah)

February 18: Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars (Sharjah), Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (Sharjah)

February 19: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings (Sharjah)

February 20: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United (Sharjah) February 23: Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators (Dubai)

February 24: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars (Dubai), Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United (Dubai)

February 25: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Dubai), Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (Dubai) February 26: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United (Dubai)

February 28: Playoff 1: Team 1 vs Team 2 (Sharjah)

March 1: Playoff 2: Team 3 vs Team 4 (Sharjah)

March 3: Playoff 3: Winners Playoff 2 vs Runner-Up Playoff 1 (Dubai)