Pakistan is set to launch its first franchise-based Twenty20 league in the UAE on Thursday as its cash-strapped cricket board seeks to boost revenues and reverse the national team’s slide in the game’s shortest format.
The long-awaited first edition of the Pakistan Super League follows two previous attempts that fell through over a lack of sponsorship and the suspension of international cricket at home in the wake of a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team almost seven years ago.
See clips from the opening ceremony below:
Opening ceremony of @thePSLt20 #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/TMxB5yIQBa
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) February 4, 2016
The superstar who made Dubai come alive – @AliZafarsays with a brilliant performance! pic.twitter.com/aYMxZaTApn
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Relive the magical moment when @henrygayle @Newbigdog and @darrensammy88 took to the stage at the #HBLPSL! pic.twitter.com/FfZzofojrd
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
"Baby you're the one but allowed to hai na chaar!" @AliZafarsays talking about boundaries and sixes… right?
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
"He's a rockstar ooooh yeah!" @AliZafarsays arrives to take the #HBLPSL to the next level! Jhoomo, naacho, gaao!
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
We're almost there! Just 1 hour before we see @IsbUnited take on @TeamQuetta! #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/XoFjWdpzP5
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Are you watching Pakistan? Your #HBLPSL is about to kick-off. Watch live here: https://t.co/aJgj4sEZuf
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
The @lahoreqalandars break out their own unique dhamaal! @AzharAli_ @Umar96Akmal join the #UNIVERSEBOSS @henrygayle https://t.co/EelJiSYAGM
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Hawa mei bijli daurr rahi hai! Can you feel the excitement? One hour to go for Pakistan's greatest cricketing show! #AbKhelKeDikha #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Speaker nikalo, volume barhao, nacho gaao!
Get in the mood for #HBLPSL launch by checking out our teams' anthems! https://t.co/Vzqhg5Xgig
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Only four more hours before @AliZafarsays and @duttypaul give the #HBLPSL a superstar launch! #AbJhoomKeDikha pic.twitter.com/jup4R66zDW
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Delighted to announce and welcome our brand partners, @qatarairways. #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/Tahsqkbrcn
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
So which one of @SAfridiOfficial @realshoaibmalik @AzharAli_ @SarfarazA_54 @wasimakramlive is going to win? pic.twitter.com/QWZqMnnPLL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Where dem doubters at? #WORLDBOSS @henrygayle arrives at Pakistan's greatest party! #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/gojqtvbwho
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Are you excited Pakistan?! It's Game Day 1 at cricket's grandest party and we are giving away a chance for you to appear on TV!
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Welcome to our stars from @BCBtigers! Can't wait for them to join Pakistan's greatest cricketing party! https://t.co/hbf7DjdrFm
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
Setting up the field of dreams… Preparations in full swing for the grand opening of the #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/WDA929KwiG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2016
We have the one and only Ramiz Raja planning something special for the ceremony tomorrow! #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/wgrj2jrhCG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Jokes and masti as the #PSL's brilliant commentators and presenters arrive at the stadium. pic.twitter.com/TOAAgNS164
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Here is the #ShootingStar – the @swarovski designed trophy for the #HBLPSL. #AbJeetKeDikha pic.twitter.com/1WYdfZNY0R
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Sitaaro ki jhurmat! Backstage at the captains' press conference. #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/fwKBZJ4u5H
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Bijli aye ya na aye
Humara dhol bajay ga! #PSLOpeningCeremony #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/YcNLhKjrkx— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
Preparations in full swing for Pakistan's greatest party! #AbJhoomKeDikha pic.twitter.com/eeeaejYWZN
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 3, 2016
With Pakistan’s once-dominant Twenty20 side sliding to a lowly seventh place in world rankings following a their recent series loss against New Zealand, organisers are keen for local talent to hone their skills alongside the world’s best players including Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson.
Featuring 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the five-team, 24-match league will be held From February 4 – 23 across two stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai — Pakistan’s “home away from home” since the 2009 terror attack.
The teams were sold to private consortiums for a sum of $93 million across 10 years, with $200,000 salaries for top-tier players and relatively handsome paydays for middle-tier and emerging talent.
The winning side, meanwhile, will bring home $1 million. Former captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram said the league was vital for Pakistan to match the fast-rising standards of other Twenty20 teams.
PSL T20 YouTube Live Streaming Available: HBL Partners With Google
“Look at where Indian cricket is now because of the Indian Premier League,” he said, referring to the brash, glitzy tournament first launched in 2008 whose model has been emulated by other leading teams including Australia and the West Indies.
“By rubbing shoulders, by competing against and by sharing the dressing rooms with high profile players all the Indian players have benefitted and I envisage the same in the PSL,” added Akram, who is the bowling coach for Kolkata’s team.
“We have been struggling to match other teams,” agreed Shoaib Malik, a former captain who was part of Pakistan team which lost a Twenty20 series in New Zealand 2-1 last month.
“The PSL provides a launching pad for the future generation of players as four emerging players in each team will learn a lot which is good for the future of Pakistan cricket,” he added.
Not everyone is as optimistic, with organisers privately admitting that in order to be viable the tournament will need to return to Pakistan for the greater gate and TV revenues while rampant piracy puts a question mark over the profitability of kit merchandising.
With lower salary caps than leagues elsewhere, it will also need to steer clear of the ever-present threat of fixing that has hit its predecessor leagues in India and Bangladesh, resulting in bans for the likes of international stars Shanthakumaran Sreesanth of India and Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh.