Unlike Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan, Peshawar Stadium and Quetta haven’t held any PSL matches for their teams. But Peshawar Stadium will host an Exhibition PSL 9 Match.
Peshawar hasn’t seen a PSL game yet, even though Peshawar Zalmi’s supporters and owner Javed Afridi have persistently asked for it.
The Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar has undergone significant construction and updates over the last couple of years. There’s hope it’ll soon be added to the list of PSL host cities.
For PSL’s ninth edition, PCB has already marked Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan as host cities. However, there’s a chance Peshawar might showcase an exhibition match before the official PSL games, potentially featuring Peshawar Zalmi against another team.
In the lead-up to PSL 8, an exhibition match at Bugti Stadium in Quetta showcased Quetta Gladiators against Peshawar Zalmi.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has shown interest in hosting a PSL 9 match and has engaged with the PCB. Sources indicate that a recent PCB delegation met with government officials and Sports Department representatives in Peshawar for talks.
They’re considering Hayatabad Cricket Stadium as the venue for the exhibition match, but the PCB wants assurance about pitch conditions and facilities before giving the green light.
To speed things up, a committee has been formed to set out rules and regulations by the upcoming Sunday. The PCB is seeking reports from Infrastructure Structure and Domestic Department members as discussions carry on.
Matiullah Khan, Secretary of Sports & Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is hopeful about Peshawar hosting a PSL match. He’s positive about ongoing talks with the PCB delegation. Negotiations are ongoing, and updates are expected soon.
While Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan have been regular PSL hosts in recent seasons, Peshawar and Quetta are yet to witness matches for their teams.