2021 Pakistan Super League

• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Mohammed Anees
• Muhammad Javed
• Roshan Mahanama
• Ali Naqvi

[31]

The league was promoted on social media with the hashtags #MatchDikhao, #HBLPSL6 and the hashtag of the official anthem #GrooveMera by Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig and Young Stunners.[32]

For the first time, five more tracks were released on the cricket album called HBL PSL Taranay.[33]

The ceremony was telecast as a virtual opening programme after being recorded in Istanbul, Turkey,[34] instead of having a live ceremony at the stadium because of the pandemic. The artists' line up included Atif Aslam and the performers of the official anthem.[35]

PSL playoffs system

The PSL is played in a double round-robin format. Every team plays each other twice and the top four advance to the Playoffs. The playoffs use the Page playoff system, like the Indian Premier League.

The league follows the rules and regulations dictated by the International Cricket Council, although it introduced DRS system in T20s which was later emulated by International Cricket Council as well. In the group stage, two points are awarded for a win, one for a no-result and none for a loss. In the event of tied scores after both teams have faced their quota of overs, a super over is used to determine the match winner. In the group stage teams are ranked on the following criteria:

1. Higher number of points
2. If equal, better run rate
3. If equal, highest number of wins
4. If equal, fewest losses
5. If still equal, the results of head-to-head meeting

In any play-off match in which there is no result, a super over is used to determine the winner. If the super over is not possible or the result of the over is a tie, the team which finished in the highest league position at the end of the regular season is deemed the winner of the match.

• The top 4 teams qualified for the playoffs
•   advanced to Qualifier
•   advanced to Eliminator 1

In the opening game of PSL 2021, the Karachi Kings beat the Quetta Gladiators by 7 wickets. For Karachi, Joe Clarke scored 46 off 23 to help register their first win of the season.[59] While in game two, Rashid Khan made his debut for the Lahore Qalandars, helping them to a 4 wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi.[60] In game three, Lewis Gregory proved his worth to Islamabad United against the Multan Sultans. He scored 49 runs off 31 balls to give his team a 3 wicket win.[61] The next day, Lahore were looking to continue their winning start against Quetta. They did this with half centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman propelling them to a 9 wicket win.[62] Tom Kohler-Cadmore helped himself to 53 to register Peshawar's first win of the season against Multan. James Vince earlier scored 84 to propel Multan to 194, but Cadmore and Imam-ul-Haq, who scored 48, gave Zalmi a 6 wicket win.[63] In game six, Sharjeel Khan's 105 was not enough as Islamabad successfully chased down 197 to beat Karachi by 5 wickets.[64] The next day, Multan got their first win of the season. Their captain Mohammad Rizwan led from the front scoring 76 to give Multan a 7 wicket win.[65] On the same day, Peshawar chased down over 190 for the second time in a row to beat Quetta by 3 wickets.[66]

Wahab Riaz (pictured in 2017) took 4/17 against Islamabad.[67]

Babar Azam excelled in game nine, leading Karachi to a 7 wicket win over Multan.[68] On the same day, Wahab Riaz took 4/17 to lead Peshawar to a 6 wicket win over Islamabad.[67] In game 11, Lahore beat Karachi by 6 wickets despite Sharjeel Khan scoring 64.[69] Islamabad United chased down 156 with 3 overs to spare in game twelve. This was largely down to Paul Stirling, who scored a half-century in the 6 wicket win.[70] Babar Azam's 77 helped Karachi to a 6 wicket win over Peshawar in game 13. He was helped by Mohammad Nabi, who also scored a half-century to take them back to the top of the table.[71] The last game before the tournament was suspended featured Quetta getting their first win of the season against Multan by 22 runs. This was the first time in the competition the team batting first won.[72]

The first game after the tournament resumed was between Islamabad and Lahore. James Faulkner took 3/32 on his debut to help Lahore to a 5 wicket win.[73] Babar Azam's unbeaten 85 was in vain in game 16, as Multan beat Karachi by 12 runs.[74] On the same day, Rashid Khan took 5 wickets in the match, as Lahore beat Peshawar by 10 runs.[75] Islamabad's openers recorded the highest ever powerplay score in the PSL in game 18, they scored 97/0 as they helped United to a 10 wicket win over Quetta.[76] David Miller kept Peshawar in contention for a playoff place in game 19. He scored 73 as Peshawar defeated Quetta by 61 runs.[77] In game 20, Asif Ali counterattacked Lahore, giving Islamabad a 28 run win. Islamabad were 20-5 before Ali's innings of 75, which allowed them to post 152.[78] Mohammad Rizwan led from the front in game 21, he scored an unbeaten 82 as Multan beat Peshawar by 8 wickets.[79] In game 22, Colin Munro scored 88 to help Islamabad to an 8 wicket win over Karachi.[80]

Usman Khawaja scored an unbeaten 105 in game twenty-six.[81]

Quetta Gladiators got a rare win in game 23, as Khurram Shazad took 3 wickets in an 18 run victory against Lahore.[82] Hazratullah Zazai scored the joint fastest half-century in game 24, after Peshawar's bowlers restricted Karachi to 108 before Zalmi chased it down with 6 wickets to spare.[83] Quetta were eliminated in game 25 at the hands of Multan. Quetta were bowled out for 73 which gave the Sultans a 110 run win.[84] Records were broken in game 26, as an Usman Khawaja century propelled Islamabad to 247, the highest ever PSL score. In response, Peshawar scored 236 in the highest scoring PSL game ever.[81] On the same day, in the second Karachi-Lahore derby of the season, the Kings beat the Qalandars by 7 runs to keep their playoff hopes alive.[85] Lahore were in action the next day in game 28 losing by 80 runs to Multan, who, as a result, qualified for the playoffs; this was largely down to Shahnawaz Dahani, who took 4/5.[86] Karachi needed a win in game 29 to qualify for the playoffs and knock out Lahore. They did this as a result of Danish Aziz's innings of 45 off 13, which enabled them to beat Quetta by 14 runs.[87] Both teams were through in the last game of the group stage as Islamabad beat Multan by 4 wickets.[88]

Multan won the toss in the Qualifier and chose to bat. Sohaib Maqsood top scored for the Sultans, making 59 from 41; Maqsood was well-supported by Johnson Charles, who made 41. Khushdil Shah also supported Maqsood with an unbeaten 42, as Multan finished on 180/5. The pick of the bowlers for Islamabad was Shadab Khan, who took 2/5 from 4 overs.[89] In response for Islamabad, Usman Khawaja scored 70 off 40 as no other United batsman got past 30. Islamabad were all out for 149, giving Multan a 31 run win. For Multan, the pick of the bowlers was Sohail Tanvir, who took 3 wickets to send Multan into their first ever PSL final.[90][91]

Peshawar won the toss in Eliminator 1 and chose to field. Karachi got off to a good start with Babar Azam making 53 before being dismissed. In the middle order Danish Aziz, Chadwick Walton and Imad Wasim came and went for Karachi, with none of them scoring more than 20. One player who did get going in the middle order was Thisara Perera; he scored 37 off 18 to take the Kings to 175/7 from their 20 overs.[92] The pick of the bowlers for Peshawar was Mohammad Irfan, who took 2/21 from his 4 overs. In response for the Zalmi, Hazratullah Zazai, scored 77 off 38 to anchor Peshawar's chase. While at 4 was Shoaib Malik, who scored 30 to further reduce the target for Peshawar. In the end, after a final over, which contained two dropped catches, Sherfane Rutherford's 17 helped to give Peshawar a 5 wicket win. For Karachi, the pick of the bowlers was Thisara Perera, who took 2/10 from his 2 overs.[93] The result meant Peshawar were through to the second Eliminator, where they would face Islamabad United.[94][95]

Peshawar won the toss and chose to field in Eliminator 2. Opening for United was Colin Munro, who made 44. With Islamabad 110-8 it looked like they would be all out, however a cameo from Hasan Ali who scored 45 off 16 propelled them to 174. He was well supported by Mohammad Wasim who made an unbeaten 17. For much of Islamabad's innings, Peshawar were fielding with 10 fielders after Mohammad Irfan went off injured and was not allowed a replacement.[96] The pick of the bowlers for the Zalmi was Wahab Riaz, who took 2/35.[97] In Peshawar's response, Hazratullah Zazai, who scored 66 off 44, and Jonathan Wells, who scored 55 off 43, anchored Peshawar's innings bringing them closer to the target. Shoaib Malik applied the finishing touches for the Zalmi, scoring 32 off 10 as Peshawar wrapped up an 8 wicket win. For Islamabad the pick of the bowlers was Mohammad Wasim, who took 1/32 from his 3 overs.[98] The result meant Peshawar were through to the final, their fourth overall.[99][100]

Rilee Rossouw (pictured in 2014) hit a 50 to get Multan past 200.[101]

Peshawar won the toss and chose to bowl in the final. Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan opened the innings for the Sultans. Shan was dismissed first for 37 by Mohammad Imran. At the other end, Multan's captain, Mohammad Rizwan, was caught behind for 30 as Mohammad Imran claimed a second wicket. Afterwards, came Sohaib Maqsood, who made an unbeaten 65. This later won Maqsood the player of the match award. Rilee Rossouw followed Maqsood and made 50 in 20 balls, before he top edged a ramp to Mohammad Irfan as Sameen Gul claimed his first wicket of the match. The third wicket partnership between Maqsood and Rossouw was worth 98. Things got better for Sameen as he got out Johnson Charles Leg before wicket (LBW) for a golden duck. While at six was Khushdil Shah, who scored an unbeaten 15 off 5 balls to increase Multan's score. In the end, Multan finished on 206/4; the pick of the bowlers for Peshawar was Sameen Gul, who finished with figures of 2/26.[102] In response, Hazratullah Zazai was first to score 6 for Peshawar before being caught at point by Shan Masood. Zazai was soon followed by Kamran Akmal, as he was bowled by Imran Khan for 36. Jonathan Wells was next, and he was run out for 6. Some stability was provided by Shoaib Malik and Rovman Powell, when Powell was caught behind for 23, Peshawar were 124/4. Malik was then caught out for 48 off 28 by Imran Tahir. Tahir then took a wicket himself as Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed for 18. Afterwards, Tahir claimed two more wickets as both Wahab Riaz and Mohammed Imran were bowled by him for golden ducks. Next to go was Amad Butt, as he was caught by Mohammad Rizwan for 7. In the end, Peshawar finished on 159/9, which resulted in a 47 run victory for Multan, making them the champions of PSL 6.[103][104]

• Babar Azam of Karachi Kings received the Green Cap.

• Shahnawaz Dahani of Multan Sultans received the Maroon Cap.