Sharjah. Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, two of the favourite teams of the Sharjah cricket fans, will clash on the first two days of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After the opening ceremony of the PSL at the Dubai cricket stadium on February 22 and followed by five days of action in Dubai, the league will be played at the Sharjah Stadium from February 28. The first match is scheduled between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United followed by Gladiators taking on Peshawar Zalmi.
Sharjah fans are mostly made up of Pathans and hence both the teams will have huge following.
The PSL which used to be contested by five teams such as Peshawar Zalmis, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United will have a new sixth team in Multan Sultans, mentored by former national skipper Wasim Akram.
Sharjah Stadium, which is currently hosting the Afghanistan-Zimbabwe One-day series and will host its 236th One day match today (February 19), is gearing up for the PSL with banners emerging in and around the stadium.
Sharjah will host 13 matches from February 28 till March 4 and then again on March 13 to March 16. Over these nine days, March 2 and 3 and March 15 and 16 will be double headers.
Commenting on the start of the third edition of PSL in Sharjah, Waleed Bukhatir, the Vice-Chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Club, said: “It’s now 35 years since this venue hosted an intense match between Gavaskar XI and the Miandad XI in 1981 and our aim has always been to invite the best of the world to enjoy the magic that makes Sharjah such an epic venue for cricket. Once again, we have 13 games of what I believe will all be too close to call.”
Sharjah Cricket Club general manager Mazhar Khan who made sure that the pitches are favourable for T20 matches said: “We want the fans to get their money’s worth and ensure that every game is an experience. That is what Sharjah does; it gives cricket that extra boost. And with the top players taking part, the lovers of cricket are in for a great treat.”
