Introduction to Pakistan Super League

Book excerpt: Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a franchise-based professional Twenty20 cricket league started by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in February 2016. As the name suggests, the tournament is played in Pakistan with franchise teams representing different cities. Initially, there were five franchises, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators, but in 2018, a sixth team, Multan Sultans, was added. Each team is allowed to have a maximum of 21 players, which includes a combination of local and foreign players. The tournament has rapidly gained popularity and has attracted many high-profile international players such as Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Kevin Pietersen, and Darren Sammy. The league takes place annually, usually in February and March, and comprises of a double round-robin format, in which each team plays against each other twice before four teams advance to the playoffs. The playoffs consist of two semi-finals before the final, which takes place at the National Stadium in Karachi. The PSL has been beneficial for the development of cricket in Pakistan and has significantly boosted the country's image on the international cricketing stage.