HBL PSL 2026 to be held behind closed doors

The HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 will be held without spectators amid the prevailing security and fuel crisis as the eight-team tournament begins on March 26.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the development while addressing a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, confirming that matches will now be staged only in Karachi and Lahore.

He said the decision was taken after extensive consultations with the government and relevant security agencies.

“All arrangements for the PSL have been finalised in coordination with the government,” Naqvi stated. He added that the current situation remains uncertain, making it difficult to determine how long the crisis may continue.

Naqvi explained that with spectators not allowed inside stadiums, hosting matches across multiple cities would not be necessary.

Under the revised plan, the tournament will now be limited to two venues, although the original schedule included four matches in Multan, 11 in Rawalpindi, seven in Faisalabad and one in Peshawar as part of the expansion to new centres.

The PCB also confirmed that the tournament will be played behind closed doors until further notice due to the ongoing fuel crisis, while the opening ceremony has been cancelled.

Fans who had already purchased tickets will be refunded, and the board has adjusted logistics to minimise team travel during the tournament. According to Naqvi, the priority is to ensure the HBL PSL continues smoothly despite the current situation.