The third edition of the HBL - Pakistan Super League (PSL) is going to start in the UAE on Feb 22. The franchises remained busy in their respective functions in the country this past week. Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans held functions in Lahore before leaving for the UAE to participate in the PSL. Karachi Kings team has also landed in the UAE.

Only Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators arranged one match against each other before leaving for the foreign country. For the first time, six teams are participating in the event, with Multan Sultans being the new entry.

In a good move, the PCB has increased the number of PSL matches in Pakistan. In its first edition held in 2016, all the matches were held in the UAE. In 2017, Lahore became the venue for the final. And now three matches are to be held in Pakistan; Lahore will host both play-offs on March 20 and 21 and Karachi will host the final on March 25 which will be the first match of the event in the coastal city.

The reservations of the foreign players coming to Pakistan on security issues is the only hurdle in hosting maximum matches of the PSL in Pakistan. Hopefully, with the passage of time, the PCB will succeed in hosting all the matches in Pakistan as the law and order situation is improving.

Islamabad United won the first edition in 2016 and Peshawar Zalmi earned the honours in 2017. In the last two editions, Quetta Gladiators, the most less priced team, remained the runners-up.

Who will lift the trophy in 2018 is a question to be answered on March 25. A clash in the final between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings is expected, which would be an upset, because in the first two editions their performances remained below par.

The Lahore Qalandars held a series of trials in the country including Kashmir to pick up the best talent.

Dar and Rana Zaheer hockey academies held a three-day event in Lahore, in which six teams were formed after the names of great hockey Olympians who have passed away. Former Test cricketer Aamir Sohail was invited as the chief guest. He also praised the efforts of remembering the heroes in such a way.

Six participating teams were named after Munir Dar, Tauqir Dar, Dr Ghulam Rasool, M.H. Atif, Saeed Anwar and Afzal Manaa Elevens. It was nine-a-side event. Afzal Manaa-XI won it defeating Saeed Anwar-XI in the final.

Aseminar on the topic of how to promote the standard of coaching in Pakistan was held in the city last week.

Experts on the subject were Salman Iqbal Butt, general secretary of the Punjab Athletics Association, and Navid Alam, a former hockey Olympian. It was held by Special Education Department head Muhammad Fazal Cheema.

The speakers were of the view that in the modern sports era, science could playing an important role in improving coaching methods. So, they stressed the coaches should be aware of modern techniques being used in the world of sports.

Pinpointing the shortcomings of the Pakistani players, the speakers said the fear of defeat even before the start of the match was the biggest enemy. They said Pakistani athletes had the talent but they must be mentally strong to face tough situations during the competitions. They said food nutritionists also had a big role to build an athlete but Pakistan also lacked in the expertise.

Others who attended the seminar were Kiran Ilyas, Saadia Zafar, Ishrat Fatima, Muhammad Irfan, Aamir Butt, Muhammad Imran, Rafiuz Zaman and Raeesur Rehman. Mr Ghaffar Gujjar, a former national athlete who is now a coach, said the participants must have acquired good knowledge during the moot.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018