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Pakistan Super League kicks off with a bang

Chris Gayle. (Melbourne Renegades)
Roar Rookie
6th February, 2016
4

Wow, what an atmosphere! If there were any fears from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the ongoing Masters Champions League (MCL) overshadowing the launch of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), they must have gone away.

It was all razzmatazz and glitz at the Dubai International Stadium for the opener on February 4.

The opening ceremony was well organised, compared to the lacklustre opening of the MCL a few days ago.

Finally, we saw some spectators in the stadium, which is desperately lacking in MCL matches. In spite of a huge Pakistani community in the UAE, it is not easy to draw crowds in Dubai.

So, the PCB must get credit for putting so much hard work into staging such a spectacle in a professional manner.

The performances by international star Sean Paul and Pakistani heartthrob, actor-singer Ali Zafar were the highlights of the spectacular evening. Chris Gayle was so mesmerised by Sean Paul’s performance that he did not mind sharing stage with him and showing some of his own dance moves.

The opening ceremony was followed by the match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators. The likes of Shane Watson, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, and Andre Russell added luster to the event along with the local stars Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfraz Ahmed.

There will be five teams competing in the PSL: Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.

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It took a while, but one can safely say that the PSL is here to stay. Some might say that the PCB has jumped on a bandwagon, but realistically, considering the requirements of the modern cricket, it was desperately necessary.

The unknown players with exceptional talent will now have a chance to rub shoulders with the stars of the yesteryears as well as the contemporary ones.

Just imagine the impact of Sir Vivian Richards in the dugout of the Quetta Gladiators. After all these years Viv still has an aura about him which is unmatchable.

Dean Jones, who is the pioneer of the limited-overs batting style, will also leave his mark coaching Islamabad United. Who can forget his famous flick of the wrist for six in the late 1980s?

As Najam Sethi, the head of PCB executive committee rightly said: “I see PSL as a gateway to Pakistan.”

Let’s hope his dream of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan comes true.

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