For the second consecutive season, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will go head-to-head with the Indian Premier League (IPL), after the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that the 11th edition of the franchise tournament will run from March 26 to May 3 next year. The overlap once again places the PSL directly in the IPL window, traditionally spanning from the last week of March to the end of May.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The announcement was made by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the PSL roadshow in New York on Sunday. Naqvi acknowledged that the scheduling clash would require adjustments to Pakistan’s international calendar, with the national team’s commitments during that period set to be reworked.
“Any international commitments of the Pakistan team during this window will be readjusted,” Naqvi said, pointing specifically to Pakistan’s proposed tour of Bangladesh. The tour, scheduled for March–April, includes two World Test Championship Tests, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals, and will now be reshuffled to accommodate the league.Last season, the PSL was also staged in the March–May window, primarily due to Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy. For its first nine editions, the PSL was held in February–March, a slot that suited both international scheduling and player availability. That window has now been taken over by the ICC T20 World Cup next year, which will be staged in February–March in India and Sri Lanka, leaving the PCB with limited flexibility.
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Since its launch in 2016, the PSL has been staged across Pakistan and the UAE, growing steadily in stature despite competition from rival leagues. Naqvi also revealed that the auction for two new PSL teams will take place on January 8, signalling the league’s expansion ambitions even as it navigates calendar challenges.
