Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi to face off on February 5, sources say
\n KARACHI
\nThe country\u2019s biggest cricket festival, Pakistan Super League (PSL), is set to enter its eighth edition, which is scheduled to take place from February 13 to March 19 in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan.
\nIn the build-up to the extravaganza, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)\u2019s new management committee \u2014 led by Najam Sethi \u2014 is committed to engaging fans from across the country, a statement from the board said.
\nSoon after taking charge as chairman of the management committee, Sethi announced to include Quetta \u2014 subject to security clearance \u2014 as the fifth venue to host PSL\u2019s eighth edition.
\nMeanwhile, to engage Quetta fans, PCB has decided to host an exhibition match between home side Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on February 5 which is observed as \u201cKashmir Day\u201d countrywide.
\nAccording to the sources, PCB, in consultation with production and marketing teams, did recce of Quetta\u2019s only cricket stadium last weekend.
\nPCB is working to chalk a budget to host only exhibition matches in the city. In collaboration with security officials PCB is committed to giving high-quality cricket action to fans.
\nSources told GeoSuper.tv that development work at Bugti Stadium is in full swing. The beautiful ground, which hosted only ODI back in 1996, will be hosting international standard cricket after a long hiatus.
\nOn the other hand, a Gladiators representative also confirmed that their full-strength Pakistani players will be available for the scheduled exhibition match against Zalmi.
\n\u201cWe are too excited for playing a match at our home for the very first time,\u201d the representative said.
\n\u201cIt is a good step taken by PCB, Quetta fans are desperately waiting for this match, and so do we. We are hopeful that all our Pakistani players will participate in this contest. There are a lot of challenges we have to face while hosting this match. Fingers crossed, I hope everything goes well,\u201d he added.
\nFormer Test captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and current national skipper Babar Azam are expected to lead their respective teams in the exhibition match.
\nSquads based on Pakistani players
\nQuetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Umar Akmal, Naseem Shah, Ahsan Ali, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf
\nPeshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, Salman Irshad, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Sufyan Muqeem, Haseeb Ullah<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi to face off on February 5, sources say KARACHI The country\u2019s biggest cricket festival, Pakistan Super League (PSL), is set to enter its eighth edition, which is scheduled to take place from February 13 to March 19 in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan. In the build-up to the extravaganza, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":308006,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-307998","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n