The unveiling of the trophy for the PSL season 9 took place in Lahore on Tuesday, with all the team captains in attendance at Race Course Park.
Named “The Orion Trophy,” the trophy serves as a symbol of motivation for all participating teams, according to a press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB described Orion as a significant constellation in various mythologies and cultures, recognizable by three bright stars forming Orion’s Belt and visible from both hemispheres.
A star-studded ceremony 💫
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi, Franchise captains & Representatives and HBL Chief Marketing Officer Ali Habib did the honours of unveiling the HBL PSL 9 Orion Trophy! #HBLPSL9 #KhulKeKhel pic.twitter.com/IZrCBMlppJ
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 13, 2024
Crafted from pure silver and coated in white gold, the elegant trophy represents the excellence of the Pakistan Super League. Adorned with intricate details and plated with white gold, the trophy required over 900 hours of continuous work and the hand placement of 18,000 stones.
PSL Season 9 is set to be held across four cities – Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi – with the final scheduled to take place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on March 18.
Similar to the previous edition, PSL Season 9 will be divided into two legs. The matches between Multan Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be held from February 17 to 27, while Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium will host matches from February 28 to March 12. The playoffs will then be held entirely in Karachi.
The opening match will feature the two-time champions and current titleholders, Lahore Qalandars, facing off against Islamabad United, winners of the 2016 and 2018 editions.
A highly anticipated clash between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings is scheduled for February 24 and March 9. Gaddafi Stadium will host the February 24 encounter, while the National Bank Stadium will be the venue for the match on March 9.
Teams like Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, and Islamabad United will play five matches at their respective home grounds, while Peshawar Zalmi will play four matches at Pindi Cricket Stadium. Quetta Gladiators, on the other hand, will play three matches each in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, with one match at Multan Cricket Stadium against the home side Sultans on February 25.
