Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman and wicketkeeper-batter Parvez Hossain Emon are set to feature for Lahore in the curtain-raiser when the tournament begins on March 26.
Mustafizur had initially been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 9.2 crore last December. However, due to the prevailing political situation between Bangladesh and India, the left-arm seamer was released from the IPL squad.
Lahore moved swiftly and secured him on a direct deal worth 64.4 million Pakistani rupees ahead of the PSL draft. He previously represented Lahore in 2018.
Emon, meanwhile, will be playing his first overseas franchise league outside the Bangladesh Premier League.
Salman Naseer also confirmed that the tournament will begin with an opening ceremony before the first match. Most fixtures of the first leg are expected to be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with the full schedule likely to be announced later this week.
There are strong rumours that while group-stage and knockout matches will be staged across various venues in Pakistan, the final could be held overseas.
Apart from Mustafizur and Emon, two other Bangladesh players will feature in the PSL. Rishad Hossain, who was part of Lahore’s title-winning squad last season, has joined Pindi Franchise for 30 million Pakistani rupees.
Fast bowler Nahid Rana will again represent Peshawar Zalmi, although he did not get a game last season.
