ISLAMABAD: Cricket fans in Pakistan brace for action as the country’s premier T20 tournament returns today, Thursday, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars taking on debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opening match of the 11th Pakistan Super League at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The tournament, reduced to two venues and set to be played without spectators, still marks a major expansion with the addition of two new franchises, taking the total to eight teams, despite fuel-saving austerity measures announced earlier this month amid rising global oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
“We have prepared well,” Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said in a statement circulated by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday. “Our focus is on playing good cricket and giving our best to defend the title.”
Other teams also sounded upbeat, expressing hope to give their best during the tournament.
“We have a balanced squad with a good mix of experience and youth,” Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan said. “The aim is to play an aggressive and smart brand of cricket throughout the tournament.”
While the absence of crowds will change the atmosphere, players acknowledged the continued support from fans watching remotely.
“We will certainly miss the fans in the stadiums and I am sure they will also miss watching the action live ... [But] we will try to play an exciting brand of cricket to make our fans proud while they follow us on TV and social media,” Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam said.
The revamped format will see each team play 10 matches before the playoffs, with 44 fixtures split between Lahore and Karachi, including a series of double-headers.
For new entrants, the tournament offers both pressure and opportunity.
“There is always pressure whenever you represent a team ... But that is also what makes it exciting. This is a new chapter for Kingsmen,” Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne said.
Pakistan’s T20 league, now in its 11th season, remains a key platform for emerging talent and international participation, even as organizers adjust formats and logistics in response to broader constraints.
