ISLAMABAD: The northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar will host the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches for the first time this year, a provincial official said on Tuesday, with fans awaiting international stars to perform in the city for the last 20 years.
Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, has not hosted PSL matches since the league’s launch in 2016. The city, once a regular international cricket venue, was sidelined as Pakistan grappled with militant violence , prompting foreign players to avoid the region.
Although authorities repeatedly announced plans to revive international cricket in Peshawar, matches remained limited to Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. In June 2025, an exhibition match between KP Zalmi and KP Panthers, which saw participation from some Pakistani national team members, marked a cautious return of cricket to the city.
But this year, the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, formerly known as the Arbab Niaz Stadium, will be hosting PSL 11th edition matches, according to provincial officials. The stadium last hosted an international match on Feb. 6, 2006, when Pakistan defeated arch-rival India by seven runs under the Duckworth–Lewis method after poor light curtailed play.
