LAHORE (Kashmir English): The upcoming edition of the HBL PSL will also feature a full match broadcast in Urdu commentary for the first time, as Sir Alastair Cook, former England Test captain, has also decided to join the star-studded commentary panel for the tournament starting April 11.
Cook will make his HBL PSL debut behind the mic as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the panel.
The Urdu commentary panel includes Ali Younis, Aqeel Samar*, Marina Iqbal*, Salman Butt and Tariq Saeed, who will be joined by other Pakistani commentators for selected segments.
HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer said that this year, for the first time in HBL PSL history, they will be broadcasting a full match entirely in Urdu commentary, a move that, he said, is likely to bring even closer to passionate fanbase across Pakistan.
Welcoming the star-studded commentary panel, featuring some of the most iconic names in the cricketing world — including former Test captains and top-tier broadcasters, Naseer hoped their involvement would not only enhance the quality of coverage but also lift the global stature of the HBL PSL.
The six-team tournament is set to begin from April 11 (Friday) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The final of the tournament will be played on May 18 at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
The 34 fixtures will be played across Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
Cook will join former MCC President Mark Nicholas – a renowned voice in cricket commentary since retiring from competitive cricket in 1995.
Nicholas also remained associated with SKY Sports in England and Channel 9 in Australia. Dominic Cork, Mark Butcher, South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy and Mike Haysman will also be part of the panel.
From Bangladesh, it will be Athar Ali Khan, and he will be joined by New Zealand’s former Test cricketer Martin Guptill. Australia’s two-time ICC Women’s World Cup winner Lisa Sthalekar will also lend her voice to the tournament.
Commentators from Pakistan
Four former Test captains –Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja will lead the commentary team from Pakistan.
They will be joined by former Test cricketer Bazid Khan, former Pakistan women’s team captain Urooj Mumtaz and cricket analyst Sikander Bakht. Erin Holland and Zainab Abbas will be the presenters during the league matches.
HBL PSL 10 schedule
April 11
Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
April 12
Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, National Bank Stadium, Karachi
April 13
Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
April 14
Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
April 15
Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank Stadium, Karachi
April 16
Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
April 18
Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium, Karachi
April 19
Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
April 20
Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, National Bank Stadium, Karachi
April 21
Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Stadium, Karachi
April 22
Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Multan Cricket Stadium
April 23
Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Multan Cricket Stadium
April 24
Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
April 25
Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
April 26
Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
April 27
Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
April 29
Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
April 30
Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 1
Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 2
Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 3
Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 4
Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 5
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Cricket Stadium
May 7
Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
May 8
Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
May 9
Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
May 10
Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
May 13
Qualifier 1, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
May 14
Eliminator 1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 16
Eliminator 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
May 18
Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
