While for the first time, the Pakistan Super League-V (PSL-V) is being staged in Pakistan, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has expressed good wishes for the teams taking part in the event. "Every PSL team is my favourite and I congratulate Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), national as well as international players," the CM said, adding: "Irrespective of its results, holding of PSL is the victory of a peaceful Pakistan."

The CM maintained that cricket lovers will enjoy the best play of cricket and it will also help in identifying new talent. Once again a message has given to the world that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and Pakistanis have a special attraction towards cricket, he said, adding: "We welcome the international players from the core of our hearts and Pakistani people are very eager to watch the PSL."

The league follows the double round robin format with each team playing the other five teams twice each in the league stage. Following the group stage will be the standard playoffs format in which the teams ending first and second get to clash in the Qualifier, while the winner moves straight to the final.

The losing team will get another chance to have a go at the final berth in Eliminator-2, where they will clash against the winner of the Eliminator-1. The team losing the Eliminator-1 will be knocked out of the event.

The Qualifier will be played on March 17 in Karachi. The Eliminator 1, Eliminator 2 and the Final will take place in Lahore on March 18, 20 and 22, respectively.