*ISLAMABAD – With each year passing, Pakistan Super League (PSL) keepsgetting bigger and now the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to gohost league’s fourth edition entirely in the country. *
The board is already planning to shift its second home ground from the UAEto Malaysia and is confident that with international teams and playersagreeing to tour the country, big ticket cricket series would soon returnto Pakistan.
The Sri Lankan cricket team attack in 2009 left a deep scar on Pakistancricket, with teams refusing to tour the country. International cricket hadcome to a halt forcing the PCB to shift its home venue to the United ArabEmirates.
Though after seven years, Zimbabwe toured Pakistan in 2016, it failed tocreate much buzz. Even the first edition of the PSL was held in the UAE.But the major breakthrough was made last year, when the final of the secondedition of the PSL was held in Lahore.
With fans showing huge support, the final was a huge success and taking cuefrom that, even the ICC World XI played an exhibition series againstPakistan last year.
This year, as the PSL gets ready for its third edition, Lahore will behosting two of the knockout games, followed by the final in Karachi.
Talking to *Sportstar*, PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, admitted that the Boardis now planning to host the entire PSL in Pakistan next year. “Hopefully,we can shift the PSL fully to Pakistan next year. That will pave the wayfor a full series in Pakistan by a top team,” Sethi said.
The seasoned administrator also confirmed that after this year’s PSL, theWest Indies will play a three-match T20 series in Pakistan, starting fromMarch 29. “The PSL will be followed by three T20s in Lahore by the WestIndies. I hope to attract other teams to Pakistan in the next year or so,”Sethi added.