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PSL is finally here: Inaugural edition kicks off with glitzy opening ceremony
Spectacular light shows and pyrotechnics ruled the night as the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) kicked off with a glitzy opening ceremony held at the Dubai Sports City Stadium.
The players from the five teams from Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi and Lahore strode out to the stadium in limos to the tune of their teams' anthems.
As the presenters introduced the teams and the captains, the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for Pakistan T20 captain, Shahid Afridi.
The ceremony was highlighted by performances from Pakistani stars Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed followed by famous musician Sean Paul and Pakistan's very own 'rockstar' Ali Zafar.
Sean who hails from Jamaica, was also joined by West Indian cricketers Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Jason Holder on the stage as the cricketers entertained the crowd with their other talents.
What is the PSL?
The PSL is Pakistan's first franchise-based league, featuring five teams, and has provided emerging as well as established cricketers with a lucrative opportunity to display their Twenty20 talent during the extravaganza which continues till February 23.
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.
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.
Comments (77) Closed
Good Luck PSL, may the next season be at home!
Inaugural edition kicks off with glitzy opening ceremony, in a hopelessly empty stadium !
The opening was so so...could have been much better...anyway what is important is the cricket and this just the start...i believe PSL will become the future of cricket...Inshahallah...
It was really a memorable day of my life and Pakistan's cricketing History
Beautiful ceremony. Well done everyone and best wishes for the league's success
Some where somebody is hidden to write something ,un-necessarily,in praise of that flop player and captain.
I am the first one to comment. PSL Zindabaad Pakistan Zindabaad
Oh God, what language is the video in... Could not understand a thing, neither was the music to south Asian palate. Sad :( total Caribbean touch, at least it could have been Punjabi or English if not Hindi or Urdu...
Best of luck guys....have a wonderful and successful tournament
All the best! it would be great success...
Congrats...
All the best Pakistan. Would love to watch it , perhaps no one to broadcast in India :(
Greetings from London! Wish could be a part of this inaugural event All the best!
Copied from India!!
The videos look embarrassing
Why they playing African music? Why not Pakistani?
Jungle mai moor nachaa . I live in pakistan what about me . I can't see my sports in my own country but people can do religious stuff wherever they want.
Good luck PSL
Just awesome! Congratulations PSL.
PSL: All The BEST
Pride moments for Pakistan. Though, real pride will come when the tournament is successfully completed. Long Live Pak Cricket!
Good and not that good. Good that PSL is finally launched. Good, that sports is promoted. Good that fans get entertained. Good that there is some fun from the gloom. Not that good, that it is not taking place in Pakistan. Not that good, that it reminds us of the law and order situation in Pakistan. I wish, that cricket can be brought back to the land
Best wishes for PSL from India.
It's fabulous opening ceremony. It would definitely revive Pakistan cricket.
i am disappointed that i can't see live telecast in India and youtube live streaming is unavailable here.
@Arun What a silly comment. Did you know 2020 originated in England. No one says India copied England. Just enjoy the cricket mate :)
I was at the stadium. It was electric
This tournament has all the ingredients to be a spectacular familiar. Organised by a country embroiled in Corruption and Hosted by a country where known international fraudsters roam free. Public around the world are not that stupid to think this tournament will be fraud free.
The ceremony was best; nice start and good luck PSL
Pakistan Super League (PSL) inaugural in Dubai was spectacular, but it should have been staged in Pakistan. We could have filled the stadiums, with all the money spent it would've helped our businesses, instead of UAE's economy. It would have also sent a strong message to the terrorists, that Cricket will be played again in Pakistan, and they won't be allowed to deprive the people of normal life and sporting events in Pakistan. The next season must definitely be played in Pakistan. We applaud the great effort.
Let's get down to economics. How many "free passes" were issued vs. how many paid to get into the stadium?
wow the best ceremony ever.......Sean paul was amazing...ppl complaining they can't understand...its supposed to be caribean music...i grew up on his music in uk....He is a super star...plz appreciate his talent.......But the opening ceremony was absolutely fantastic....Limousines, different fireworks...the audience ...every thing was best ever.....wow.
Pakistan zindabad!
All best wishes! Hope it produces good cricketers for us!
Best of luck PSL
met the expectations. Good work
Freakin AWESOME :-)
@Arun really dude? Don't you think IPL was copied from NBA NFL franchised styled sports business. But if you want to stick within cricket then do not forget Kerry Packer.
Just watched the clip, no offence but what was that????
Wish it were in Pakistan instead. But then again, if the attack hadn't happened then there wouldve been no need for PSL.
Wishing the best for psl and to Pakistani cricket! You guys deserve this!
Best of luck friends, bad its not streaming on YouTube, I would watch from India.
@Arun Mr Pakustan was the first country to announce t20 league but due to banned International Cricket Pakistan couldnt start PSL
Great show. Now both India and Pakistan should promote hockey in the same format. We have given away our dominance to the West in the game through corruption and apathy.
@salman totally agree. No need to find controversy where there are none.
I guess congratulations are in order
This is ridiculous and a very sad state of Pakistan, having Pakistan Super League games outside Pakistan.
what poor coverAge no quality control its really sad ... story of pakistan
I am Lahore Qalander fan now since Gayle there, big fan of him. Good luck boys, and Pakistan. Keep pounding!!!
@salman ignore him dude, young teenagers get over passionate some time. This day belongs to you and no one should try to your glory.. Best wishes
Good luck guys, remember this is just not about game, it will provide jobs and boost economy for much needed people
If this is the rate of ticket sales... Good luck PSL
@salman He is talking about the league format -- Enjoy your cricket...
All the best
Will do alright with the never say never spirit.Good luck!!!!!
That was such an ill-organized opening ceremony that it's not even funny.
@Rohan You can watch via cricketgateway.com
All the best. Happy to hear positive news from across the border.
All the best PSL from an indian brother....On which channel PSL is been broadcasted in India?
A pathetic venture. If you can't have your league in your own country, what is the point having celebration in a foreign land. Pakistan should address real issues at home.
could not find any mention of PSL on indian media mostly...shows their intolerance while we show all IPL matches live.....
Congratulations to thee players and organizers, and best of luck.
Competition is good empty stadiums are not lest the owners use other means to break even you can bet on that
all the best Pakistan
hope its a success and a day may come when indian players participate in it
Shame that the event couldn't be in Pakistan.
How come there are no pictures?
@Arun Definitely of IPL, which has never taken Pakistani players, so did the PSL did not take Indian players.
Well my frnd from uae told me that, PSL opening ceremony is done on an empty stadium & match is played with handful crowds, let's hope for the best
and I quote ,"I've been to many an opening ceremony none have I seen to be better then the psl opening". Wasim Akram ....enough said!
Best wishes PSL. Pakistan Zindabad
The fire works and the light show was amazing. Good effort by PCB. Good luck and hope these efforts can bring cricket back to Pakistan Ameen
Empty stadium? I was at the stadium and it was nothing less than spectacular! From the lightning effect to sounds to the cheer amongst the crowd, everything was amazing. I reckon stadium was 85% packed which is not bad at all. People need to stop criticizing n feel proud of what Pakistan cricket is daring to achieve.
It is sad to see PSL games played outside of Pakistan. It is not a happy day to deprive millions of people of Pakistan. Only in Pakistan...
Ceremony was ok on a limited budget. Hopefully next year it will be even bigger. But ceremony should have been earlier as the match started at 9:30pm Dubai time when it was supposed to be 8pm or even 7:30pm.
But good nonetheless
Best wishes for PSL and pakistani circket fans
Indians spreading thus 'empty stadium' rumour?
Commercialized sport comes to Pak. A