PSL 10 kicks off with dazzling show in Pindi
Our Web Desk
RAWALPINDI: The tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Friday exploded into action with a dazzling show at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.
This is the first time that Pindi hosted the opening ceremony of the marquee event which was introduced way back in 2016.
The queen of Sufi music Abida Parveen, Ali Zafar, Young Stunners, Abrar-ul-Haq, Nathasha Baig and Talha Anjum enthralled the audience with contrasting performances.
The fantastic firework also dazzled the venue which has been hosting plenty of top cricket in recent months.
According to sources water-tight security arrangements have been made for the opening ceremony which was also attended by the owners of various franchises.
The 34-match event will be held in four different venues of the country. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the bulk of 13 matches, also including the two eliminators and the May 18 final. Rawalpindi will host 11 matches, also including the qualifier while Karachi and Multan will host five matches each.
This is the first time that PSL is being held in April-May and clashes with the world’s top brand IPL which is already in operation across various states of India.
Normally the event is held in February-March but it was shifted to the summer because of the ICC Champions Trophy which Pakistan successfully hosted recently both in Pakistan and Dubai.
There will be three double headers in this season to be played on April 12, May 1 and May 10.
The winners of the season will go away with a decent purse of 500,000 US dollars with the runners-up to take 200,000 US dollars.
The opening game was scheduled be held at the Pindi Stadium on Friday night between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.
United, being led by Shadab Khan, have won the trophy for a record three times while Lahore Qalandars have lifted it twice in 2022 and 2023 editions under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi.
The rest of the four teams have won the event once each. Exciting contests are expected to be held during the season as every team have constituted solid line-ups, carrying prolific offshore and local players.
Multan is being led by Mohammad Rizwan who is also captaining Pakistan’s ODI team. Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam leads Peshawar Zalmi, left-handed test batsman Saud Shakeel is captaining Quetta Gladiators while Shadab Khan is set to lead Islamabad United.
Australia’s great David Warner is leading Karachi Kings while Shaheen Afridi as usual will lead Lahore Qalandars which is the most popular franchise of the marquee league.
During the last few days each side held tough training sessions and majority of their foreign players have already joined their respective teams during this time for what could be the most exciting season.
Peshawar Zalmi will face Quetta Gladiators at the Pindi Stadium on Saturday while in Karachi’s National Stadium Multan Sultans will meet Karachi Kings.