ISLAMABAD: The 9th edition of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket will commence today, Saturday, with a clash between two-time champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United after a star-studded opening ceremony at the Qaddafi Stadium in the evening.
The ceremony, which will be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will kick off at 6:30pm with an array of exciting performances by Arif Lohar, Natasha Baig, Noori and the singers of the PSL 9 anthem Ali Zafar and Aima Baig.
Fans will also be treated to spectacular fireworks and a mesmerizing laser show.
The HBL PSL tournament will be held in four cities, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, which will host 34 matches.
Lahore and Multan will host the first leg of the league from February 17 to February 27 before the action moves to Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Pindi Cricket Stadium will host nine matches from March 2 to March 10. Karachi’s National Bank Stadium will also be the venue for 11 T20 thrillers and host the grand finale on March 18.
In a statement shared by the PCB, captain of Lahore Qalandars Shaheen Shah Afridi said he was excited to be leading the team again.
“I am genuinely excited to be leading Lahore Qalandars for the third consecutive season in HBL PSL and the hunt for a hat-trick of titles makes me eager to do well,” he said. “We are eying a third HBL PSL win this time and I can assure you that my team will show the same intensity as we have done in the past two seasons.”
He maintained that his team had a strong fan base, adding that its games in Lahore were going to be jam-packed.
Shadab Khan, skipper of Islamabad United, thought he had a balanced side.
“I have been captain of Islamabad United for the last four seasons and I want to lift the trophy for my team this season,” he said. “The additions of Imad Wasim and the Shah brothers are a huge boost for the franchise. Faheem Ashraf and Azam Khan are two vital cogs in our team. I want my team to stand tall in high-pressure games and get over the line. We have evaluated our mistakes from the last season and are looking forward to executing our plans aptly this time around.”
The PSL officially began in February 2016. It is a significant cricket league in Pakistan, featuring city-based franchise teams.
The PSL is a major event in Pakistan’s cricket calendar, symbolizing the country’s love for the sport, and brings together both local and international talent.
It has grown substantially in value and popularity since its inception, contributing to the global cricket landscape.
Pakistan Super League set to launch with star-studded ceremony today
https://arab.news/4jqxt
Pakistan Super League set to launch with star-studded ceremony today
- The first match of the tournament will be between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United
- Shaheen Shah Afridi plans ‘a hat-trick of titles’ for Qalandars after two back-to-back victories
Pakistan sells 480MHz for $507 million in 5G spectrum auction
- Mobile network operator Jazz buys 190 MHz, Ufone 180MHz and Zong 110MHz, says telecom authority chairman
- Most mobile networks in Pakistan currently operate on fourth-generation (4G) infrastructure, while 5G rollout has faced delays
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sold 480 megahertz (MHz) of fifth-generation (5G) telecom spectrum for $507 million, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed after a live auction on Tuesday, marking a key step toward introducing faster mobile broadband.
The live auction was organized by the PTA to determine which telecom operators would acquire the frequencies needed to deploy 5G mobile networks across Pakistan.
Pakistan, a country of over 240 million people, is one of the world’s largest telecom markets by population, with over 190 million mobile phone users. However, most networks currently operate on fourth-generation (4G) infrastructure, and the rollout of 5G has faced delays in recent years due to regulatory, economic and spectrum-allocation challenges.
“In total out of 595 MHz, 480 MHz spectrum has been sold today,” PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said in a speech aired on state media. “This is a very big achievement and a big victory for Pakistan, in my opinion.”
Chinese mobile operator Zong bought 110 MHz of the 5G spectrum, while Ufone bought 180 MHz and Veon-backed firm Jazz bought 190 MHz, Rehman announced.
“And the price in total for this is $507 million,” the PTA chairman said.
According to officials, 5G services are expected to be rolled out first in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta cities, before expanding nationwide as network infrastructure develops.
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has previously said the government is also encouraging wider adoption of 5G-compatible devices, noting that about 95 percent of mobile phones used in
Pakistan are locally manufactured, while premium models such as iPhones and Google Pixel devices are imported.
Officials say Pakistan currently uses around 274 megahertz of spectrum, much of it allocated decades ago, while the new auction will make 600 megahertz of spectrum available for next-generation services.
Under the government’s rollout plan, telecom operators are expected to add roughly 3,000 new network sites annually to support the expansion of 5G services.
PTA officials say Pakistan currently offers some of the world’s cheapest mobile data services and have pledged that consumer protection will remain a priority as the country moves toward next-generation connectivity.
