2023 Pakistan Super League (referred to as HBL PSL 8 for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League, a franchise Twenty20 cricket league which was established by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2015. Then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had hinted at an auction based system to replace the draft for the 2023 season but a draft was retained.[1][2] The draft for the tournament was held on 15 December in Karachi.[3] A total of 36 foreign players were picked alongside local players.[4]Lahore Qalandars were the defending champions.
The tournament was to be played between 13 February to 19 March 2023,[5] However, on 16 March 2023, PCB moved forward the final by a day to 18 March 2023 due to bad weather forecast predicted in Lahore, with 19 and 20 March set as reserve days respectively.[6]
In the final, Lahore Qalandars defeated Multan Sultans by a minor margin of 1 run to become the first team in the PSL to defend their title.[7]
^ abcdefPlayer suffered an injury which ruled them out of the tournament.
^ abcPlayer withdrew from the tournament due to international duty.
^ abPlayer was unable to participate due to NOC issues.
Venues
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced plans to hold matches in Multan, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi during the 2023 season. Lahore and Karachi were only the venues in 2022.[16][17][18] The Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar was declared unfit to hold any matches in the tournament.[19] Quetta's Bugti Stadium was later added to the list of PSL venues but was removed shortly after due to logistical reasons.[20][21][22] The PCB considered moving the matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi to Karachi after a dispute with the Punjab government over the cost of security arrangements but did not do so after the dispute was resolved.[23][24]
The season's logo variant was unveiled on 26 January with the hashtags #HBLPSL8 and #SabSitarayHamaray being used for promotion on social media;[30][31] latter being the official anthem. Previously, the slogan for this season had been 'Soch Hai Apki' but was later changed.[32][33]
Trophy
The trophy for this season, named Supernova, was unveiled on 9 February 2023.[34] It was entirely made in Pakistan by Lahore-based Mahfooz Jewellers.[35]
League stage
Format
Each team played every other team twice in the league stage of the tournament in a double round robin.[36] Following the group stage, the top four teams qualified for the playoff stage of the tournament.
By winning in the final, Lahore Qalandars became the first team in PSL history to defend their title.[7]
Awards and statistics
Abbas Afridi, the leading wicket taker of the tournament, was awarded with the Fazal Mahmood Cap, and Mohammad Rizwan, the leading runs scorer, was awarded with the Hanif Mohammad Cap.[49][50]
