Pakistan Super League 2026: Squads, schedule and all you need to know
India Today
PSL 2026 begins on March 26 with defending champions Lahore Qalandars facing debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, as the expanded eight-team tournament runs until May 3 with 44 matches.
The 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) is set to start on March 26, with Lahore Qalandars entering as defending champions after lifting the title last season. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s side will once again be one of the headline teams. The tournament is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 3, features eight teams after expansion, and will have 44 matches in total.
The opening match will see the Qalandars take on new franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. It is a fascinating curtain-raiser: a proven title-winning unit up against one of the league’s biggest unknowns. Lahore bring continuity, experience, and a championship core, while Hyderabad add fresh intrigue as one of the newly introduced sides in the expanded competition.
However, PSL 2026 will not look like a normal season. Originally planned across six venues, the tournament has now been reduced to just two cities — Lahore and Karachi. The PCB confirmed that all matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi, a major logistical shift designed to cut travel and simplify operations.
The revised schedule has the first 14 matches in Lahore, followed by a block in Karachi, with the playoffs split between the two cities. The Qualifier has been moved from Rawalpindi to Karachi, while Lahore will still host the Eliminators and the final on May 3.
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Another major change is that the tournament will begin behind closed doors. The PCB has announced that the initial phase of PSL 11 will be played without spectators, citing the ongoing regional crisis and fuel-related austerity measures.
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