The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 kicks off this Friday, but there was a bit of a scare when a fire broke out on the sixth floor of the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, where the players were staying. The local authorities confirmed the fire started on the top floor, but the fire department responded quickly, and thankfully, no one was hurt. All the guests and staff, including players and officials, were safely evacuated. PSL CEO Salman Naseer shared with Samaa TV that there were no issues for the teams, as the fire was put out swiftly before it spread inside the hotel.
Zafar Iqbal, the CDA Director of Emergency, said six firefighting vehicles and about 50 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames in less than 30 minutes.
In the opening match, Islamabad United will face Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The PSL has scheduled its games to start an hour after the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches to avoid overlapping. Salman Naseer mentioned on a podcast that PSL games will begin at 8:00 PM, right after the IPL starts at 7:00 PM PST. This is the first time both leagues will be competing in the same time frame.
Naseer acknowledged that having the PSL in April-May was necessary due to a busy schedule earlier this year, even though it wasn’t the best scenario. He remains confident that the PSL has a loyal fan base and will still attract viewers. He believes that fans want to see quality and exciting matches, which is something the PSL has consistently delivered.
Since it’s the 10th year of the PSL, they’re introducing some improvements for better broadcast quality. Naseer also noted that one upside of having the PSL at the same time as the IPL is the chance to sign some well-known international players who didn’t get picked during the IPL auction.
Regarding the tension between some franchise owners and the PSL management, Naseer suggested that issues should be addressed directly rather than publicly airing grievances. He pointed out that franchises have gained from their relationship with the PSL over the years. He also mentioned that all franchise owners would receive updated fees for the next decade, leaving them the choice to accept the PCB’s offer or not.