The matches during the tournament will be held behind closed doors from February 20 to March 22
The upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six will be held in the two major cities Karachi and Lahore. This will help the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in managing the preparations and increased finances with regards to forming a secure bio-bubble for the event.
The matches during the tournament will be held behind closed doors while the proposed schedule has been finalised for the event.
The National Stadium in Karachi will host matches from February 20 to March 7 whereas the next 14 matches, including the final, will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The first match of the tournament will be a night encounter that will be played between the defending champions Karachi Kings and the Quetta Gladiators franchise on February 20 at the National Stadium in Karachi while the final is expected to be played on March 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The previous edition of the PSL had also featured matches in the cities of Rawalpindi and Multan. which will not be the case for the upcoming season of the tournament due to the prevailing spread of the coronavirus.
The Quetta Gladiators franchise had voiced its displeasure about the schedule of the previous edition of the PSL which saw them competing in various different cities. This was also touted as a major reason for the first-round exit for them as the defending champions.
The PCB, this time, had consulted the franchises regarding the schedule to avoid a similar situation.
Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators will have to play back-to-back matches thrice, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans will have to play two back-to-back matches twice, while the Lahore Qalandars franchise will have to play back-to-back matches just once during the upcoming tournament.
Two matches will take place simultaneously in only one city. The first stage of the tournament will feature 21 night matches and 9 day matches. Islamabad United will feature in eight night encounters, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi will feature in 7 while Karachi Kings are scheduled to feature in 6 night matches.
Expected schedule for PSL season six:
February 20: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators (Night)
February 21: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi (Day)
February 21: Islamabad United v Multan Sultans (Night)
February 22: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators (Night)
February 23: Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans (Night)
February 24: Karachi Kings v Islamabad United (Night)
February 25: No matches (Rest day)
February 26: Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans (Day)
February 26: Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United (Night)
February 27: Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans (Day)
February 27: Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators (Night)
February 28: Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings (Night)
March 1: Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans (Night)
March 2: No matches (Rest day)
March 3: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (Day)
March 3: Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United (Night)
March 4: Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United (Night)
March 5: Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans (Night)
March 6: Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United (Day)
March 6: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi (Night)
March 7: Karachi Kings v Islamabad United (Day)
March 7: Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans (Night)
March 8 and 9: No matches (Teams shift to Lahore)
March 10: Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United (Night)
March 11: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (Night)
March 12: Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans (Day)
March 12: Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United (Night)
March 13: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators (Day)
March 13: Islamabad United v Multan Sultans (Night)
March 14: Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators (Day)
March 14: Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings (Night)
March 15: Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans (Night)
March 16: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators (Night)
March 17: No matches (Rest day)
March 18: First Qualifier (Night)
March 19: Eliminator 1 (Night)
March 20: Eliminator 2 (Night)
March 22: Final (Night)