PSL, a love affair for both UAE and Pakistan
Enthralling opening ceremony sets tone for T20 cricket fiesta
If the enthralling opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) fourth edition yesterday was any indication, the tournament looks set to live up to its theme song titled Khel deewano ka (a game for lovers) this season.
The Dubai International Stadium, comprising a largely family crowd of expats, welcomed the pathbreaking T20 league once again before reigning champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalanders set the ball rolling late into the evening.
The crowd rocked to the beats of the musical act by Fawad Khan, a Pakistan filmstar who enjoys a good fan following across the border, members of the iconic Sufi rock group Junoon, Aima Baig and Shuja Haider along with Marcia Barrett of erstwhile Boney M. Pitbull’s absence failed to dampen the overall appeal of the concert, which was easily the biggest so far.
‘A great sport’
Shaikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Chairman of Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) declared the tournament open in the presence of the top brass of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including chairman Ehsan Mani.
“We in the UAE recognise cricket as a great sport which brings people together. Our
country’s cultural diversity is on display tonight,” Shaikh Nahayan said. “Though the Islamabad and Lahore teams are playing here tonight, I know the crowd has fans from Karachi, Quetta, Multan and Peshawar as well. Pakistan means cricket.”
The first stage of PSL featuring 26 matches will for the first time be played at all the UAE’s three international venues — Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi — before the last eight matches, including the final, move to Pakistan.
The tournament will have more eyeballs as there are no significant international cricket series in the period. It was in late January that Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information, told the media during an official visit to Dubai that the whole tournament will be shifted to Pakistan in 2020.
The plan, as of now, seems to further increase the number of matches from eight in Pakistan next year and test the waters. The two venues — Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Stadium in Karachi — are ready to host the matches while plans are afoot to spruce up the one in Rawalpindi to meet with the demand of increased matches in future.
A cross-section of expat fans are mentally ready to see the tournament being gradually shifted to Pakistan.
“It’s an annual opportunity for me and my wife try to make it to as many matches as possible. However, at the end of the day, the tournament belongs to the Pakistan board and should be staged there if possible, said Mohammad Kashif of Ajman, a former local cricketer himself.
For Omer Shaikh, a shift of venue poses a big dilemma. While he does not mind the tournament being shifted, his seven-year-old son had a different view. “It should stay here,” he said.
It seems the tournament has now become as much the UAE’s as it is Pakistan’s!