The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces a challenging task with regards to hosting Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Peshawar, during the fifth edition next year.

According to details, the incomplete renovation work at Arbab Niaz Stadium is a massive hurdle in PCB’s plans to schedule matches in Peshawar.  

HBL PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi had expressed its desire to hold three matches at their home venue, during the next season.  

“The stadium in Peshawar won’t be ready, by the time next season starts, which is why we won’t be considering it for PSL5,” said Senior General Manager Operations, PSL, Usman Wahla in reply to an email inquiry from Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi.

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Upon receiving this news, Afridi said that he had brought up this suggestion on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan and had discussed the same with Chairman PCB Ehsan Mani and Managing Director Wasim Khan.

“Chairman Mani will meet PM Imran in the upcoming few days, where he will talk about this matter. It’s only after that we will be in a position to further comment on this situation,” said Wahla in another email response.

Sources further stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial government is also keen on hosting HBL PSL5 matches in Peshawar but the completion of renovation work and convincing foreign players to play there is a major stumbling block.