LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the schedule for the Pakistan Super League 11, whose 44 matches will be played over 38 days from 26 March to 3 May. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the opening match between defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, while the two eliminators and the final will also be played at the home of Pakistan cricket.

Overall, Lahore will stage 15 matches, Karachi’s National Bank Stadium six matches from 8-16 April, Multan four matches from 1-6 April, and Rawalpindi 11 matches in two different windows, including the 28 April Qualifier. Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium has been added as the fifth active venue, staging seven matches from 9-18 April.

Peshawar’s Imran Khan Cricket Stadium has been allocated one match, which will be held on 28 March between Peshawar Zalmi and Rawalpindi Pindiz under natural light.

The event includes 12 double-headers, spanning both weekends and weekdays. In fact, the last week of the league matches will feature five double-headers from 19-25 April.

In the event’s first week from 26-29 March, Lahore will stage five matches and Peshawar one. In the second week from 31 March to 6 April, Rawalpindi and Multan will share matches. Karachi and Faisalabad will share matches in the third week from 8-13 April, while Faisalabad and Lahore will share six of the seven matches between them in the fourth week from 15-19 April.

In the business end of the tournament from 21-26 April, Lahore and Rawalpindi will be the active venues as eight sides try to secure the four available places in the playoff stage.

According to the event format, each side will play 10 league matches. However, it is unclear how the scheduling and draws have been decided, as the Pakistan Super League Management has provided no official explanation.

This also means that for the first time, the PSL will not be held in a full double-league format. Out of the eight participating sides, the top four will progress to the playoffs. The No. 1 and No. 2 placed sides will contest the Qualifier, No. 3 and No. 4 ranked sides will clash in Eliminator 1, and the winner of Eliminator 1 and the loser of the Qualifier will feature in Eliminator 2.

TEAM-BY-TEAM DRAW:

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Two matches each against Lahore Qalandars (26 March and 25 April), Karachi Kings (11 and 22 April), and Quetta Gladiators (29 March and 19 April); one match each against Multan Sultans (1 April), Peshawar Zalmi (8 April), Islamabad United (12 April), and Rawalpindi Pindiz (16 April).

Islamabad United: Two matches each against Multan Sultans (28 March and 26 April), Peshawar Zalmi (31 March and 24 April), and Rawalpindi Pindiz (4 and 23 April); one match each against Quetta Gladiators (2 April), Lahore Qalandars (9 April), Hyderabad Kingsmen (12 April), and Karachi Kings (16 April).

Karachi Kings: Two matches each against Quetta Gladiators (27 March and 25 April), Lahore Qalandars (29 March and 23 April), and Hyderabad Kingsmen (11 and 22 April); one match each against Rawalpindi Pindiz (2 April), Peshawar Zalmi (9 April), Islamabad United (16 April), and Multan Sultans (19 April).

Lahore Qalandars: Two matches each against Hyderabad Kingsmen (26 March and 25 April), Karachi Kings (29 March and 23 April), and Quetta Gladiators (17 and 21 April); one match each against Multan Sultans (3 April), Islamabad United (9 April), Peshawar Zalmi (11 April), and Rawalpindi Pindiz (18 April).

Multan Sultans: Two matches each against Islamabad United (28 March and 26 April), Rawalpindi Pindiz (6 and 21 April), and Peshawar Zalmi (13 and 22 April); one match each against Hyderabad Kingsmen (1 April), Lahore Qalandars (3 April), Quetta Gladiators (5 April), and Karachi Kings (19 April).

Peshawar Zalmi: Two matches each against Rawalpindi Pindiz (28 March and 26 April), Islamabad United (31 March and 24 April), and Multan Sultans (13 and 22 April); one match each against Hyderabad Kingsmen (8 April), Karachi Kings (9 April), Lahore Qalandars (11 April), and Quetta Gladiators (15 April).

Quetta Gladiators: Two matches each against Karachi Kings (27 March and 25 April), Hyderabad Kingsmen (29 March and 19 April), and Lahore Qalandars (17 and 21 April); one match each against Islamabad United (2 April), Multan Sultans (5 April), Rawalpindi Pindiz (10 April), and Peshawar Zalmi (15 April).

Rawalpindi Pindiz: Two matches each against Peshawar Zalmi (28 March and 26 April), Islamabad United (4 and 23 April), and Multan Sultans (6 and 21 April); one match each against Karachi Kings (2 April), Quetta Gladiators (10 April), Hyderabad Kingsmen (16 April), and Lahore Qalandars (18 April).