LAHORE: Karachi will host next year’s final of the Pakistan Super League on March 17, the Governing Council of the PSL decided at a meeting held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here on Saturday.

“It was also decided that PSL 2019 will start on Feb 14, 2019 in the UAE and will move to Pakistan for the last eight matches of the tournament, with the final taking place in Karachi on March 17,” said a PCB press release issued after the meeting ended late on Saturday evening.

Karachi also hosted this year’s PSL final held in March while Lahore had hosted the final of the second edition in 2016.

“The pick order for the upcoming PSL Players Draft was discussed at the meeting. It was decided that this year’s draft would be based on last year’s rankings with teams being allowed a maximum of 10 retentions. For PSL 5 onwards, all franchises agreed to introduce a randomized draft order,” it is also decided.

The meeting was chaired by new PCB chairman Ehsan Mani.

“A number of key matters were discussed during the meeting. Mani reiterated PCB’s aim of ensuring transparency and working in partnership with all franchises in order to make PSL a bigger success.

“It was decided unanimously that franchise representatives would be a part of bid committees for various upcoming PSL rights. The Chairman welcomed the inclusion of franchises in the decision-making process and highlighted the need to ensure collective growth of all partners,” the press release further said.

“PCB and all PSL franchises are partners in this project and I am confident that we will all work together to bring in good numbers for our next rights cycle,” said Mani.

Meanwhile the players’ draft ceremony will be held in the end of October this year.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018