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West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards on Wednesday regarded himself as one of the biggest fans of the Pakistani style of cricket and expressed excitement ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which kicks off from February 4 (tomorrow) in the United Arab Emirates.
Richards said the PSL is the perfect platform for raw as well as refined Pakistani talent to hone their skills and abilities.
“I have always enjoyed playing against Pakistan because of their aggressive mindset. Even though the West Indies have success against Pakistan but this was the only team in my time which created problems for us. It was always a challenge to play against them.
“This is an ideal opportunity for Pakistani youngsters to prove their mettle in the PSL. UAE's pleasant weather provides an opportunity to teams to entertain the fans with the T20 brand of cricket,” Richards, who is mentoring PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators, was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.
The 63-year-old cricketing legend was known for his aggressive nature as a cricketer, and was one of, if not the most feared batsmen in the history of the game. He said T20 cricket is all about confidence and players should believe in themselves and enjoy the event to full.
“You can say T20 cricket is a lottery at times but it needs lot of focus because one over can change the complexion of the game. There are so many good players here and they are fresh and young,” said Richards.
The former West Indian captain seemed confident that the PSL will be able to entertain cricket fans all around the world. “Its success is inevitable,” he said.
“This region has loads of talent and I don't find any reason the PSL is not going to succeed.”
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Feb 03, 2016 06:05pm
Yes Sir, but people across the border trying every possible thing to make it.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:11pm
Encouraging thoughts from a cricket legend..
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Feb 03, 2016 06:25pm
@Faisal Thats a very very lame thought already going on defensive anticipating a failure. If it works we are great, if it doesnt, the neighbours spoiled it? Grow up. The basic flaw I see in this calling it Pakistan Super League and playing it in Dubai and not Pakistan. The event could have been played in Dubai once it attained that kind of popularity.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:44pm
Aggressive Nature! Nice.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:47pm
@faisal... Come on my dear. change your mindset. this kind of thoughts always not help pak team to improve. you must try to understand current situation on pak team and your cricket structure. I am big fan of pak cricket 10 years ago, but not now. Every failure from pak team you (some pak fans) only cross finger to border and escape. these kind of attitudes can not help pak team to overcome its short comings. The team is already is in downward condition.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:48pm
Sorry I have to disagree with the legend. This is definitely not the format for youngsters to show their mettle. In fact this format will destroy any good cricketing skills they may have. For sure, T20 is there to entertain and it will do exactly that.
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Feb 03, 2016 06:52pm
It is nice to see and hear the Great batting legend Sir Vivian Richards after a long time. I remember him when he batted against Pakistan in 1981 series. He is one our favorite player from West Indies. He played like worrier, he tossed the ball anywhere in the ground where he want it.
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Feb 03, 2016 07:39pm
With legends around like him, Waseem and others, Cricket will progress and Win Too !!!
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Feb 03, 2016 08:04pm
Agreed....PSL will be a robust success. Since it is organized to play in Dubai, would attract more international players and see 'defacto' from IPL. It is going to provide an ample opportunity to genuine cricket players from PAKISTAN! No wonder, down two to three season, we will have a new PAKISTANI cricket team, a STRONG one:-)
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Feb 03, 2016 08:41pm
@Faisal What are they doing to make it fail???
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Feb 03, 2016 08:57pm
Its so nice to see this kind of support from a legend! PCB and the players need to showcase their strengths and talent we ve got to the world. I hope the teams from Peshawar and Quetta will compete well against Lahore and Karachi
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Feb 03, 2016 09:05pm
@Faisal says "but people across the border trying every possible thing to make it [fail]"
Come on boy be mature, they have nothing to do with it and believe me they can't and wouldn't. Its only our own corruption, nepotism, non-professionalism that has the potential to shed water on all good efforts. Forget about others, just clean your own house
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Feb 03, 2016 09:45pm
@Faisal
I agree with @Afzal - let's not start this conspiracy theory merry go round.
People across the border have a much bigger and better T20 league - and despite what we may think the PSL is no threat to their business.
Ultimately, the success of the PSL will be from the revenues it can generate from TV rights - and screen the matches in Pakistan, and to the Pakistani diaspora around the world.
In addition, it will be dependent on sponsorship money coming in.
Against this backdrop, it will have to pay up to attract the best players from across the world.
So it basically becomes a simple economic proposition for the Pakistani cricket fan, the Pakistani TV market and so on.
If Pakistanis are prepared to make it a success they will.
The only problem here is, as @Afzal has pointed out already, we are trying to reverse engineer this league. It should have been started/held in Pakistan to give it a real identity and credibility.
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Feb 03, 2016 10:20pm
PSL will be so succesful, Indians will be vying to advertise on its games. International attention will get drawn to it as well, because of sheer talent that will come up.
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Feb 03, 2016 10:32pm
@Faisal
Let's be honest... A person who doesn't follow pak cricket keenly in India will not even know what PSL is! A couple of days before i didn't even know when PSL would start. The BCCI earns more than enough from IPL that it doesn't have to think about the upcoming PSL.
And as an Indian, I wish your board luck for hosting a league. Hope it works.
And a tip for you: wait for the league to end, who knows it may become a success! and, Stop blaming others for your mistakes...
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Feb 04, 2016 02:09am
I am jealous that such a legend is representing Quetta not Karachi . . .
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Feb 04, 2016 02:41am
Biggest worry is betting as everybody want to get rich.
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Feb 04, 2016 04:32am
Mustafizur was picked in the PSL draft and would have been paid $50,000, but the BCB suggested they were not keen on granting him a no-objection certificate, soon after which Mustafizur was injured.
BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said they hoped Mustafizur would be fit by the time the Asia Cup begins on February 24 and that Bangladesh players would be picked in the IPL auction on February 6. So unfit for PSL but hopeful for IPL which tells a tale in itself
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Feb 04, 2016 05:01am
I'm an Indian. The sheer volume of 1.25 billion viewers say we have a captive audience. As and when PSL becomes successful we 'the neighbours' have everything to gain because of 'additional' market and nothing to lose. Just the size of gambling that goes on with each game is mind boggling to say the least. Add Pakistan tournament and our gambling industry would rejoice. If you didnt notice cricket already is a game very revenue has moved out of the stadium and is now made out of the digital world. Good luck...coming from Sir Viv Richards it's high praise, enjoy it and build upon that
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Feb 04, 2016 05:52am
@Faisal -Good Luck! We are happy with your very success in launching PSL, albeit rather very late entry.
Now you have to travel and watch matches in UAE to ensure it is not anything else!
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Feb 04, 2016 05:55am
@Hameed - Great he was for sure but here it seems like a paid commercial!
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Feb 04, 2016 08:15am
Very well said by sir Richards.Like all other leagues PSL will be successful and help youngsters.All the best!
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Feb 04, 2016 10:19am
Before the start of PSL, there is so much fear.
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Feb 04, 2016 11:45am
I know its PSL but Maybe there should have been at least one Dubai and Sharjah team ,imagine! to create local fan interest.
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Feb 05, 2016 06:17am
I pray for success of PSL. Love to see characters like Javed Miandad and Inzi coming up in the next decade. But it would ONLY succeed IF (thats a big IF) 1. Domestic cricket becomes popular and organized... All the players in India like Bumrah, Kohli, Raina, Jadeja etc. were not products of IPL. They were first taken into IPL clubs based on their domestic performances...That was the benchmark 2. PSL need to have a bigger league to attract more players, mainly domestic and the ones abroad 3. If EVER cricket returns to Pakistan. The passion to play can only come in young minds IF they watch their heroes play and 4. The league becomes popular and that needs to be done via broadcasting rights...
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