The seventh edition of Pakistan Super League will kick off on January 27 2022, with the draft slated for next Sunday (December 12). The league has been pushed forward by about a month to make room for Australia’s upcoming tour in March-April.
With the curtain raiser between defending champions Multan Sultans and 2020 winners Karachi Kings, the first 15 games of the season will take place in Karachi from January 27 to February 9, and the last 19 in Lahore including the final on February 27.
The draft will also see player categories rejigged for Mohammad Rizwan, who led Multan Sultans to the title last year, Islamabad United batter Asif Ali and Lahore Qalandars bowler Haris Rauf, who are all now in Platinum bracket.
Each of the six sides come to the draft with a maximum of eight retentions from the last tournament. Following the finalisation of player categories, the transfer and retention window closes on December 10.
“I am delighted that the HBL PSL 7 schedule has been announced,” said Ramiz Raja, the PCB chairman. “This will now get the ball rolling with teams planning and finalising their line-ups and the PCB increasing the pace of the operational delivery to ensure they provide quality playing facilities for the players as well as five-star experience to the fans and our valued commercial partners.
“The HBL PSL 7 will also kick start what will be a bumper year for Pakistan cricket with the Australia men’s cricket team to play a full series in March-April with England men’s cricket side to tour Pakistan twice for white-ball and red ball cricket.”
Among other changes, the schedule has been drawn up to ensure all teams get equal games in Karachi and Lahore – the only two venues picked as hosts this edition – and likewise, equal number of games under lights.
