THE magnificent Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore last Sunday saw the culmination of so many things that came together on the day including fine leadership, brilliant teamwork, superb camaraderie among the players, unprecedented security, fantastic crowds and above all the triumph of a peace-loving nation.
I vividly recall the countless challenges and heavy odds that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was confronted with early last year when it had announced to hold the PSL. Besides, there was a long list of critics and detractors who had seriously doubted the league ever taking off and castigated PCB chief Shaharyar M Khan and PSL chairman Najam Sethi for their plans to launch it in the UAE.
But two years on, I can safely say that the PSL has not only become a super-hit brand but a uniting force for the Pakistanis all over the world. There can be no bigger proof of the league’s popularity than the fact that no less than 150 million people around the globe watched the PSL final.
The lion’s share of the credit for the PSL’s success ought to go to Sethi Sahab who from day one totally believed in it and had a clear vision about it that was eventually translated on the field.
Of course, he was fully backed by Shaharyar Khan and the team of officials who worked tirelessly to make the PSL happen. I must also laud the determination and unflinching commitment of PCB and the Govt of Pakistan to hold the final in the country despite a wave of terrorist attacks just two weeks before the big day.
The final was a great spectacle and its smooth staging was ensured by the steadfast security forces while the crowds, converging on the impressive Gaddafi Stadium from all corners the country, went delirious with joy to celebrate the match.
I sincerely feel that the PSL final would have sent a powerful, positive message to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and cricket playing nations that the time has come to give Pakistan another chance to host international matches.
Already, the news is taking rounds that a World XI could be touring Pakistan in September this year to play four T20 games, a move initiated and supported by former England Cricket Board chief Mr Giles Clarke who is the head of ICC’s Pakistan task force.
As for the final match itself, Peshawar Zalmi emerged as the befitting winner to the title since they always looked a focused, competitive bunch who meant business all the time. Although they lost seasoned pro Shahid Afridi to a hand injury for the final, they were lucky that all of their international players, led by the inimitable Darren Sammy, featured in the final that clearly gave them the edge over Quetta Gladiators who took the field sans their four foreign players including the prolific Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Roussouw, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills.
But prior to the final, the Gladiators who boast a marvelous combination of players and coaches, looked equally strong contenders for the PSL title. Its owner Nadeem Omar, whose decision to purchase the Quetta side last year had surprised many, played a masterstroke when he hired great Sir Vivian Richards as the team’s mentor and that has seen the Gladiators making the final both times. They in fact remains the only side in the two PSL seasons to have defended as well as chased down a total of 200 with aplomb.
The league has thrown up quite a few talented youngsters for the selectors to consider for future assignments of the national team. They include the highly talented spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan, leggie Osama Mir, batsman Fakhar Zaman, pacers Irfan Khan Jr and Usman Shinwari and a few others, all of whom have abundance of talent and a lot of promise for the future.
The two most outstanding PSL players were Kamran Akmal and Sohail Khan, both in their mid-thirties, but they clearly looked on top of their game. Kamran stood out with his fabulous hitting including a hurricane hundred in the playoffs. He seems to be a front-ranking candidate to make the ODI and T20 teams for the West Indies tour next month. PSL two also saw a welcome return to form by openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez who were instrumental in their respective teams making the final.
All’s well that ends well. Inshallah, the PSL is going from strength to strength and the final held in Lahore is the perfect launching pad for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2017
