History of PSL

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is one of the most successful and popular T20 leagues in the world today.¹ Its history is marked by a long struggle to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and a rapid rise in brand value.²+1

1. The Foundation (2015 – 2016)³

After several failed attempts to launch a premier T20 league (in 2013 and 2014), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), under the leadership of Najam Sethi, officially launched the PSL in September 2015.⁴

• Inaugural Season (2016):⁵ Due to security concerns in Pakistan, the entire first season was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).⁶+1
• Original 5 Teams: The league started with five franchises: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators.⁷
• First Champions: Islamabad United won the inaugural title by defeating Quetta Gladiators in the final in Dubai.⁸

2. The Journey Home (2017 – 2020)

A major goal of the PSL was to prove that Pakistan was safe for international players.

• The Lahore Final (2017): In a historic move, the 2017 final was played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.⁹ This was a massive step in reviving cricket in the country.
• Expansion (2018): A sixth team, Multan Sultans, was added to the roster.¹⁰
• Full Homecoming (2020): This was the first season played entirely in Pakistan, hosted across Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan.¹¹ However, the playoffs were delayed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.¹²+1

3. Dominance and Rivalries (2021 – 2025)

The league has seen a rotation of champions, but some teams have built significant legacies:

• The “Lahore-Islamabad” Rivalry: Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have been the most successful teams, each winning three titles.¹³
• Global Standing: The PSL is widely regarded as having the highest standard of bowling among all global T20 leagues.
• New Era (2026): Starting from the 2026 season, the league is set to expand further to 8 teams, with new franchises representing cities like Hyderabad and Sialkot.¹⁴

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List of PSL Champions

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Venue of Final
2016	Islamabad United	Quetta Gladiators	Dubai, UAE
2017	Peshawar Zalmi	Quetta Gladiators	Lahore, Pakistan
2018	Islamabad United	Peshawar Zalmi	Karachi, Pakistan
2019	Quetta Gladiators	Peshawar Zalmi	Karachi, Pakistan
2020	Karachi Kings	Lahore Qalandars	Karachi, Pakistan
2021	Multan Sultans	Peshawar Zalmi	Abu Dhabi, UAE
2022	Lahore Qalandars	Multan Sultans	Lahore, Pakistan
2023	Lahore Qalandars	Multan Sultans	Lahore, Pakistan
2024	Islamabad United	Multan Sultans	Karachi, Pakistan
2025	Lahore Qalandars	Quetta Gladiators	Lahore, Pakistan