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Pakistan Super League ignites with grand opening, setting stage for Qalandars vs United clash

This photograph shows fireworks over the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 9th edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket with the first match between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on February 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy: PCB)
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Updated 17 February 2024
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Pakistan Super League ignites with grand opening, setting stage for Qalandars vs United clash

  • The stadium was packed to capacity ahead of a dazzling laser show and singing performance by Ali Zafar, Aima Baig
  • Islamabad United won the toss following the lavish opening ceremony and invited Lahore Qalandars to bat first
Updated 17 February 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The 9th edition of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket tournament kicked off with a star-studded ceremony at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium shortly before defending champions Lahore Qalandars took on two-time title winners Islamabad United on Saturday evening.

The stadium was packed to capacity ahead of the dazzling laser show that marked the beginning of the championship that will unfold in four cities – Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi – which will host 34 matches.
Singers Ali Zafar and Aima Baig performed the PSL 9 anthem before Islamabad United won the toss and chose to bowl.
In a statement shared by the PCB a day earlier, 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.”
Skipper of Islamabad United, Shadab Khan, on the other hand applauded his balanced squad.
“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.

Topics: PSL 2024 Lahore Qalandars Islamabad United

Pakistani stocks breach 176,000 points barrier as investors expect further rate cuts

Updated 13 sec ago
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Pakistani stocks breach 176,000 points barrier as investors expect further rate cuts

  • Pakistani financial analyst attributes surge to falling inflation, investors expecting further policy rate cuts
  • Pakistan’s finance ministry said Thursday that inflation had slowed to 5.6 percent year-on-year in December 
Updated 13 sec ago
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistani stocks continued their bullish run on Thursday, breaching the 176,000 points barrier for the first time after trading ended, with analysts attributing the surge to investors expecting further cuts in the policy rate. 

The KSE-100 benchmark gained 2,301.17 points at close of business on Thursday, marking an increase of 1.32 percent to settle at 176,355.49 points. 

Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.5 percent last ‌month, breaking a four-meeting ‌hold in a move ‌that ⁠surprised ​markets. Pakistan’s consumer price inflation slowed to 5.6 percent year-on-year in December, while prices fell on a monthly basis as per data from the finance ministry. 

“Upbeat data for consumer price index (CPI) inflation at 5.6pc in December 2025 [with] investors expecting a further State Bank of Pakistan rate cuts on falling inflation data,” Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Commodities Ltd., told Arab News. 

The stock market witnessed a trading volume of 1,402.650 million shares, with a traded value of Rs48.424 billion ($173 million), compared with 957.239 million shares valued at Rs44.231 billion ($158 million) during the previous session.

Topline Securities, a leading brokerage firm in Pakistan, credited the surge to strong buying at the first session.

“This positivity can be accredited to buying by local institutions on the start of the new calendar year,” it said. 

https://x.com/toplinesec/status/2006690862483624136

Pakistan’s Finance Adviser Khurram Schehzad highlighted that the bullish trend at the stock market reflected “strong investor confidence.”

“With lower inflation, affordable fuel, stronger reserves, rising digitization and a buoyant capital market, Pakistan’s economic outlook is clearly improving--supporting greater confidence, better investment sentiment and more positive momentum for 2026,” he said on social media platform X. 

Topics: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)

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