ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani said on Saturday the next edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held at home, as the second leg of the country's premier cricket tournament has just wrapped up in the UAE.
The Twenty20 competition had to be suspended in March, following a spate of COVID-19 cases among players and officials. Only 14 matches allowed spectators when they were held at the National Stadium in Karachi. As the league eventually resumed on June 9, the remaining 20 matches were staged in front of an empty Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium due to strict observance of coronavirus rules.
The tournament ended on Thursday when Multan Sultans won their maiden PSL title by thumping 2017 champion Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs in the final.
“I assure the passionate Pakistan cricket supporters that the next edition of HBL Pakistan Super League in 2022 will be staged in Pakistan and in front of our people," Mani said in a statement.
"Planning for next year’s event will start as early as July and by the final quarter of the year, I am hopeful that we may be able to share complete details with our fans so that they can start planning to attend the gathering of some of the most accomplished cricketers at one of the most followed cricket league tournaments."
Mani also thanked UAE authorities on Saturday for hosting the second leg of PSL matches and making it possible to complete the tournament's sixth edition.
“I want to express my gratitude towards the entire PCB staff, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Emirates Cricket Board and the Abu Dhabi government," he said. "We worked together as an effective team and collectively overcame unexpected challenges and surprises to ensure that the tournament was completed without any further hassles."
