LAHORE The HBL Pakistan Super League returns with the historic fifth edition set to be played in Pakistan from 20 February to 22 March 2020. This edition will be the first one to be played in Pakistan in its entirety. Since the advent of the league in 2016, the tournament has graduallymovedtoPakistanwith this year’s edition nothing less than leapfrog for the coveted league. The firsteditionthatincluded fiveteams was played entirelyin theUAE;the second edition saw the first step towards its homecoming with the final between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators here at the Gaddafi Stadium. The 2018 edition was the first instance that two Pakistani cities hosted the HBL PSL matches.Lahore was hosttotwo play-offs while Karachi stagedthe finalin which Islamabad United prevailed against defending champions Peshawar Zalmi. It was also in this very season that Multan Sultans was added as the sixth franchise. The 2019 season hadan unprecedentedeight games in Pakistan. Karachi’s National Stadium was the host to all matches, including the three play-offs and the final between Quetta Gladiators and PeshawarZalmiwhichQuettawon convincinglytoliftthe prestigious HBL PSLtrophy for the first time. Belowis a brieflook atthe four exciting seasons from2016-2019.HBLPSL2016: Islamabad UnitedmadehistorywhentheybeatQuettaGladiators in the final of the inaugural edition of the HBL PSLto becomethe first-ever sidetoliftthe prestigious PSL silverware. Islamabad cruised past the 175-run target for the loss of four wickets with eight balls spare in the final staged at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. West Indian Dwayne Smith was named the player-of-the-match for his scintillating 73 (51 balls, 7 fours, 4 sixes).KarachiKings’all-rounder Ravi Bopara was named the player-of-the-tournament for his all-round contributions (329 runs at 54.83, 11 wickets at 13.81). The tournament was played on a doubleleague. Peshawar Zalmi topped the standings at the end of the round-robin stage but lost out on a place in the final after losing both their play-offs to Quetta and Islamabad, respectively. The Zalmi-Gladiators first play-off was settled on the last-ball in front of a packed to capacity and heaving Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Quetta prevailed by one-runto clinch a spot in the final. United’s opener Sharjeel Khan scoredthe first-ever centuryintheHBL PSL history.Theleft-hander’s 117 helped Islamabadto a comprehensive victory over Zalmi on their way to the title.—APP
