The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to run alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a third consecutive year, with the 12th edition of Pakistan’s T20 league scheduled from March 18 to May 2, 2027, according to ESPNcricinfo.
The PSL, which began in 2016, was traditionally held between February and March until 2024. The tournament moved to the April-May window in 2025 to accommodate clashes with major International Cricket Council (ICC) events, including the Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan in 2025 and the T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
PCB rules out January-February window
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PSL franchises explored the possibility of shifting the 2027 edition to January and February during a governing council meeting last month.
The proposal followed concerns raised by Walee Technologies, which holds the league’s media rights until 2029 and owns one of the two new franchises, Rawalpindiz, over the limited broadcasting revenue generated by the existing schedule.
However, the January-February window was considered impractical due to weather conditions in Punjab, which is home to three of the league’s four traditional venues: Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. Dense fog and harsh winter conditions during this period can significantly affect visibility and disrupt matches.
The proposed window also raised concerns over the tournament’s closing stages coinciding with Ramadan. A similar scheduling overlap had occurred during the 2024 edition.
PSL 2027 venues yet to be announced
According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB’s media release confirming the dates did not specify the venues for the upcoming season.
Since the PSL was moved entirely to Pakistan in 2020, matches have primarily been hosted in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. Before that, the tournament had been staged partly or entirely in the United Arab Emirates.
Faisalabad and Peshawar were added to the list of venues for the previous edition. However, PSL 11 was ultimately restricted to Lahore and Karachi amid government fuel-conservation measures introduced during the West Asia crisis.
With the exception of the final, all matches in that edition were played behind closed doors.
The March 18-May 2 schedule means the PSL will once again overlap with the IPL, setting up another simultaneous run for the two major T20 leagues.