Pakistan Cricket Board has finally decided to bring cricket back to Quetta after 27 years. Pakistan Cricket Board decided to include Quetta Cricket Stadium as a venue for PSL 8 on December 24. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided that they will host the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium. The eighth season of the league will happen from February 13 to March 19. The tournament will now feature games in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Quetta.
The Quetta Stadium hosted its last ODI in 1996. It was a three-wicket Pakistan victory over Zimbabwe. However, now Quetta which is Pakistan’s least populous but largest by area province will play host to a high-profile cricket match. High-ranking PCB profiles stated their remarks on this auspicious occasion. They said that they are pleased to announce this decision. They said that seven years after the Pakistan Super League’s inception, PCB will add Quetta’s Bugti Stadium as the fifth location for this major sporting event.
The Quetta Gladiators will play their home games at Bugti Stadium. PCB is happy that it will now bring PSL 8 matches to Balochistan doors. The devoted cricket fans of Quetta have been waiting for a long time to watch high-profile cricket in their backyard. PCB has already spoken with powerful officials in the province of Balochistan.
The officials have assured the PCB of their complete support from an event delivery perspective. Since 1954, Quetta hosted domestic cricket matches. However, because of its outdated infrastructure and deteriorating security, the city was frequently disregarded. Balochistan historically did not have the same level of support for cricket as other regions of Pakistan.
Moreover, only one player, the opening batsman Shoaib Khan, from the Balochistan region has represented Pakistan so far. Under a contract, the PCB gained ownership of Bugti Stadium in 2001 and had to maintain and upgrade the building.
However, in reality, the local government owns Bugti Stadium. Despite the stadium having hosted domestic games since 1954. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, did not take place there for 27 years between 1977 and 2004.
Since Pakistan’s domestic season runs from October to March and winter temperatures in Quetta range from 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Authorities have pointed to weather as one of the main reasons for the stadium’s inconsistent use.