Sports

Stars shine as PSL kicks off in Dubai

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan thanks everyone for supporting PSL

Abdul Majid February 04, 2016

PHOTO: TWITTER

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is all set to rock the world of lucrative T20 leagues. With 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the five-team, 24-match league will be held from February 4 to February 23 at two UAE stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai.

The teams were sold for a total of $93 million to ARY media group (Karachi Kings), Qatar Oil (Lahore Qalandars), UAE Capital Venture (Islamabad United), Haier (Peshawar Zalmi) and Omar Associates (Quetta Gladiators) for 10 years, with $200,000 salaries for top-tier players and relatively handsome pays for mid-tier and emerging talent as well. The winning side, meanwhile, will bring home $1 million.

With the legendary Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja as brand ambassadors, the PSL is being touted as Pakistan’s much needed opportunity to resurface on the international cricket scene in the limited overs formats.

Kevin Pietersen shares his thoughts

"We are here to entertain but most importantly we are here to share our experience. We have only three to four years left but we have youngsters with us who have a lot of time to learn and play."

And the fireworks start...

You want more?

A little more?

Masti k din hain... continues

Masti k din hain...

The showstopper, Ali Zafar, is here!

This is how a 'rockstar' makes an entry.

Who can stop Gayle from stealing the show?

Everyone enjoying Sean Paul's performance

Sean Paul on the floor...

Sanam Saeed announced the PSL officially open

Captains sign the wall

The 'Shooting Star' arrives

Najam Sethi speaks

"Its a very happy day. A lot of hardwork has gone into making this dream a reality. I want to thank everyone who helped us convert this dream into a reality. I want to thank PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan for his help. Franchises, sponsors, media, players and our nation, everyone has been a part of the process. I am thankful to everyone. World wants to see cricket. Pakistanis are passionate about the game as well. We are sending a message that we can play cricket and we can help other play cricket. In PSL, whether a team or wins or loses, in the end Pakistan will win. I promise to bring at least one or two matches in Pakistan in the next edition. And in the third year, we will come to Pakistan completely."

President of HBL speaks

He says HBL is delighted to be a part of PSL. "HBL has been supporting cricket for a long time now. I'll take this opportunity to congratulate PCB for this event."

Sanam Saeed on stage now...

Quetta Gladiators' performance

Peshawar Zalmi's performance

Lahore Qalandars' performance

Karachi Kings' performance

Islamabad United's performance

2011 Miss Sri Lanka Stephanie Siriwardana on stage

She says she likes Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi.

Performance by Green Man Group

Captains arrive in the stadium

Islamabad's Misbahul Haq followed by Karachi's Shoaib Malik, Lahore's Azhar Ali, Peshawar's Shahid Afridi and Quetta's Sarfraz Ahmed.

Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza for you!

https://twitter.com/cricingif/status/695271492905492480

The countdown to start the PSL

https://twitter.com/cricingif/status/695267291018166272

The national anthem of Pakistan being played in the UAE

https://twitter.com/cricingif/status/695266628884414464

COMMENTS (17)

bharat | 8 years ago | Reply Good to see this happening. But it should be held in Pakistan.What about the fans there?

Abhi | 8 years ago | Reply Looks like a good opening ceremony.

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Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @Iqbal Hadi Zaidi: If UAE is good enough for the right, honorable Mr Zardari, its good enough for us !

gk | 8 years ago | Reply by the way when psl is going to happen in pak #terror #comeout frombubble

Mohammad Faizan Farooq Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Its lovely that PSL is being held in UAE as it clearly shows that we have the resolve and expertise to hold an international cricket event. However as a cricketer myself, I fail to understand how this would help the local lad in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore. After winning the inaugural World T20 Championship in Johannesburg India held the IPL in 2008 and have failed to win an ICC Word T20 event since. Sri Lanka does not have a functioning league yet managed to win the last Twenty 20 World Cup that was held in Bangladesh. Lets face facts, unless we take the money that PCB makes and funnel it through to the youngsters at the domestic level nothing will change. This PSL is just a big show for the corporate sponsors and the established players like Afridi and Malik, who will likely enjoy mooching off of this event and making millions of rupees whilst club cricketers are left to survive without any facilities.

Farru | 8 years ago | Reply @Rahul: Take it easy Rahul, please don't compare IPL with PSL or any other ceremony. Otherwise, people will start comparing Beijing Olympics with New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games. PSL has a promising future, just give it some time.

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi | 8 years ago | Reply Naked exposure and admission which may not be liked by many not just some but nevertheless I will paint it is its correct spectrum purely as true neutral person with no prejudice against any one and not favoring others as well. As a Pakistani I am really pained to pen that it is shameful to hold PSL in UAE and not in Pakistan whereby we ourselves are telling the whole world that Pakistan is a dangerous country where life is at risk. It also at the same times proves in quite crystal clear terms without any shadow of doubt that our 'heavy mandated' Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has utterly failed to curb human killing in my beloved Pakistan otherwise the foreign players who are now very much in action in UAE had not refused to play in Pakistan. Last but not the least, PCB had given all type of assurances to all the foreign players not to be afraid playing in Pakistan and they will be extended fool proof security what is extended to VIIP but regretfully none of them believed and agreed meaning by that PCB has lost its credibility otherwise they had honored PCB words and come to Pakistan and PSL matches had been held in Pakistan and not UAE. As regards earning revenue from the event, it goes without saying that much more people have watched the matches if held in Pakistan than UAE simply because numerically speaking population of Karachi or for that matter of Lahore outnumbers the population of Dubai so income Pakistan had been huge and set new records. Who stones me and who garlands me is an interesting question? Are we still proud to stage PSL in UAE? ZAIDI, Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.x.diplomat@hotmail.com / Cell 66229897

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply @Rahul: you kidding? haha, PSL was way better.

shah | 8 years ago | Reply @Rahul: Your Commonwealth Games Were Nothing Short Of A Disaster.The Arrangements Were Appalling.Do You Really Want To Get Me Started?????

Sabundani | 8 years ago | Reply "New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was much better than this ceremony. IPL had Katy Perry" Nobody cares.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @sunny: "One of the best opening ceremony of the world." Man do you lead a sheltered life or what. New Delhi's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was much better than this ceremony. IPL had Katy Perry as a guest performer in one of its opening ceremonies. PSL is miles behind in being the world's best ceremony. You can say Pakistan's best ceremony so far then I can agree.

sunny | 8 years ago | Reply One of the best opening ceremony of the world. I really enjoyed watching the game between Islamabad united vs Quetta gladiator. Luke wright batting is superb.

optimist | 8 years ago | Reply @ Malik Bhaijan It is not Mullahs. We have some limits. . We can never beat the West in showing too much skin, so why not be original and have some cultural boundaries??

abdullah | 8 years ago | Reply @malik .i guess you have not visited dubai till now.there are no restrictions here.and to be true not in pakistan too.only in so called mullah home you can find thise restrictions.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply NS chose Raheel Sharif,he destroyed enemies of Pakistan.NS chose Najam Sethi and he saved cricket for Pakistan giving the game new dimensions.That is the reason enemy of Pakistan hate both NS and Sethi.They hate the general to the core but cant say it openly for obvious reasons.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply Credit goes to Nawaz Sharif and Najam Sethi for this wonderful achievement.The enemy wanted to support Taliban for khilafa state and in doing so destroyed cricket in Pakistan.Today enemy is still busy to spread hate against the well-wisher of Pakistan like NS and Najam Sethi.Dharna is their favourite hobby.

Malik Bhaijan | 8 years ago | Reply They have managed to do an OK ceremony despite all the islamic restrictions of not showing dancing women in skimpy dresses. I hope the mullah brigade does not mind women showing too much skin.

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