PSL 2023 pay dispute: Matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi to go ahead as per schedule - Reports

Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 matches, which were slated to be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi, will go ahead as per schedule. Reportedly, the deadlock over a financial dispute between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the interim Punjab government is expected to end on Saturday (February 25).

Earlier, it was reported that the PCB was considering shifting PSL’s Punjab leg to Karachi after receiving a demand of PKR500 million from the Punjab government to host games in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

As per the latest development, Minister of Health from the interim government, Dr. Javed Akram, was quoted as telling Express News that the PSL games will not be shifted from Lahore and Rawalpindi to Karachi.

A report in Cricket Pakistan said that PCB has already paid PKR50 million to the Punjab government for expenses on food. The provincial government demanded the remaining PKR450 million for lighting and security purposes, an amount which the PCB was apparently unwilling to pay.

The report quoted sources as saying that the interim government of Punjab has now decided to be flexible on lights, security and other expenses. As per the new arrangement, sixty percent of the cost will be borne by the Punjab government and the remaining forty percent by the PCB.

Representatives of the PCB and the interim Punjab government are expected to meet on Saturday to settle the matter.

PSL 2023 games in Lahore will begin from February 26. The Gaddafi Stadium is also scheduled to host the Qualifier, Eliminators and final. Rawalpindi will host the games from March 1 to March 12.

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PSL 2023: How the teams have performed so far?

Multan Sultans are atop the PSL points table with eight points. They have played five games, winning four and losing one. In their most recent game, they beat Karachi Kings by three runs, with captain Mohammad Rizwan smashing 110* off 64.

Islamabad United are second in the points table with six points - three wins and one loss from four games. Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi have four points apiece, while Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators are at the bottom of the standings, with one win apiece from five outings.

As per the PSL 2023 schedule, Karachi Kings will take on Multan Sultans at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday (February 26), while Lahore Qalandars will meet Peshawar Zalmi in Lahore.