Trouble Hits PSL 2025 Before Opener As Team Hotel In Islamabad Catches Fire

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 is all set to begin on Friday but the teams were left concerned after a fire broke out on the sixth floor of the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, where the players were staying. The district administration confirmed that the fire originated on the top floor and the fire department quickly took care of the situation. None of the guests and staff, which included PSL cricketers and officials, were injured because of the fire and they were evacuated properly. “None of the players or franchises faced any difficulties. The fire was extinguished on time. It did not spread to the interior of the hotel,” PSL CEO Salman Naseer told Samaa TV.

“The fire brigade teams launched their operation to extinguish the fire promptly,” he added.

“Six firefighting vehicles and 50 firefighters participated in the operation to extinguish the fire. The fire was extinguished within half an hour,” CDA Director of Emergency Zafar Iqbal said.

In the PSL 2025 opener, Islamabad United take on Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

The Pakistan Super League management, in a bid to minimise direct airtime clash with the Indian Premier League, has scheduled its matches one hour after the IPL matches commence.

Salman Naseer, the PSL CEO, said in a podcast that PSL matches will begin from 8:00 pm, one hour after the IPL games commence at 7 PST.

The PSL will begin in Rawalpindi on Friday.

This is the first time since the two leagues were launched that they are clashing in the same window.

Naseer said they had no option but to schedule the PSL in the April-May window because of the packed calendar earlier this year.

"It is not an ideal situation but we are confident that the PSL has its own fan base and will attract