Ali Zafar to sing PSL 9 official anthem

The development was confirmed by PSL on its official X, formerly Twitter, account on Friday.

It must be noted that the ninth season of the PSL is set to commence on February 17, 2024, at the PCB’s headquarters in Lahore. The opening match will feature the two-time champions and current titleholders, Lahore Qalandars, facing off against Islamabad United, winners of the 2016 and 2018 editions.

This premier cricketing event will be played across four cities—Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi—culminating in the final at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on March 18. The tournament, featuring six teams, will consist of 34 T20 matches.

During the course of the competition, Karachi will host 11 matches, including the Qualifier, two Eliminators, and the final. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will each host nine matches. Multan, known as the city of saints, will witness five matches.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday that several supplementary and replacement players have been added to the six Pakistan Super League (PSL) squads ahead of season nine.

The Replacement Draft for the ninth edition, that begins on 17 February, took place over a conference call on Monday.

“Peshawar Zalmi, announcing their replacements, drafted Waqar Salamkheil in the silver category for Lungi Ngidi, who was not available for the whole season after being picked in the PSL Draft in December,” the PCB said in a press release.

Defending champions Lahore Qalandars reserved their picks for star spinner Rashid Khan, fully unavailable, and Dan Lawrence, partially unavailable, to the team.

Lahore also bagged the services of Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

Haider Ali has joined Islamabad, meanwhile 19-year-old Muhammad Shahzad went to Multan.