Hyderabad HBL PSL team named Kingsmen

Some 700 drones fly making shapes of the team's name and logo

HYDERABAD:

As thousands of exuberant cricket aficionados gathered past midnight at Niaz Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad to witness a historic occurrence, the owner of team Hyderabad for Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced the team's name.

"Hyderabad! The name of your team is Kingsmen," the team's thrilled owner, Fawad Sarwar, declared drawing chants, claps and whistles from the public who waited for one whole month since January 8 to know the team's name and logo.

Music and fireworks, which painted the city's dark sky in vibrant colours, further added to amusement. Sarwar expressed his vow to take the team to success in the PSL matches. Basking in the public support, he uttered that "I had picked the team out of my personal interest but now I promise you [the people] that we won't disappoint you."

Hyderabad Kingsman is going to debut in the 11th edition of the PSL, slated to start from March 26. Former Australian fast bowler has reportedly been selected as the team's coach while the players' selection is yet to be done.

Sarwar, who bought the team for Rs1.75 billion per year contract for 10 years, recalled that he was born and raised in Hyderabad before he moved to the US. "My parents always taught me to work hard and honestly, remember Almighty and to keep going."

Hyderabad's Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro, who earlier along with his brother and provincial minister Jam Khan Shoro welcomed Sarwar on his arrival to Hyderabad, dubbed the day as a historic one in the city's history. "A new history is being written," Shoro said while addressing the boisterous crowd at the stadium.

He thanked Sarwar for making team Hyderabad's entry in the PSL matches possible, saying that his efforts will be regarded as a big honour for Hyderabad and its people. "You haven't just met your obligation of being a son of Hyderabad but you have also provided an opportunity to the city's youth," the mayor underlined.

Shoro vowed to turn the lost grounds and stadiums of Hyderabad in the places of healthy sports activities and enjoyment for the public. He also sounded positive that his administration will succeed in organizing PSL and other international matches in the city after the stadium's recent rehabilitation for which he thanked Pakistan Peoples Party's Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Hyderabad's people will always support Hyderabad Kingsmen whether they win the matches or lose," the mayor declared.

He recalled that Niaz stadium has historically proven lucky for Pakistan's cricket team as its bowler Jalaluddin made his one-day cricket hatrick in the same ground in 1982 and Javed Miandad scored his highest 280 runs. Shoro said his objective of spearheading the stadium's restoration was to bring back national and international cricket to the city for the sake of the city's youth and economic growth.