PSL 9: Here are the records likely to be broken in this year’s edition
Lahore Qalandars will look to defend their title
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine is four days away and excitement among the cricket fraternity is increasing with every passing day.
This year’s edition will see Lahore Qalandars coming to win their third successive title after recording remarkable victories in the 2022 and 2023 finals by beating Multan Sultans both times.
All teams in the PSL have won at least a trophy while Lahore and Islamabad United are the only ones to win the title twice.
As the commencement of the much-anticipated league gets closer, it is time to take a look at some records that are likely or will get broken in the PSL 9.
Most matches played
Former Peshawar Zalmi pacer and the current Chief Selector of the Pakistan cricket team, Wahab Riaz is the player with the most number of matches (88) in the league throughout the eight seasons.
Another Pakistani veteran Shoaib Malik is second with 81 and he is followed closely by Quetta Gladiators’ former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed with 80 matches. With both the players still going strong, they are likely to edge the former pacer in the list as he retired from cricket.
Most wickets
With 113 wickets in 88 matches, Wahab Riaz is the all-time top wicket-taker of PSL. Hasan Ali is second with 94 wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi sits at the third position with 89 scalps in 62 matches.
Since Riaz has retired, Hasan and Shaheen can overtake him should the two work their magic with the ball in the upcoming edition.
Most hundreds
Former Peshawar Zalmi player and one of the finest batters to ever grace the PSL, Kamran Akmal, scored three centuries across seven seasons, which is the most. Behind him are Jason Roy, Sharjeel Khan, Rilee Rossouw and Fakhar Zaman with two centuries each and with the former Zalmi star retired, any of these batters can equal or break his record.
Most sixes in an innings
Former Lahore Qalandars power-hitter who wreaked havoc in PSL 2020, Ben Dunk, is the player to have hit the most sixes in innings, that too twice. He hit 12 maximums against Karachi Kings and 10 against Quetta, both in the same edition. Since he has not been selected for this year’s edition, his record can get broken.
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.
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