DUBAI: The glittering rophy for the third edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018 edition was unveiled on Tuesday at the Dubai Cricket Stadium amid lot of fanfare and big fireworks.

The prestigious event was attended by all the players participating in the mega event as well as the respective management and owners of the PSL franchises, along with top officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The opening ceremony for the tournament will be held on Feb 22, ahead of the first match between Peshawar Zalmi and debutants Multan Sultans.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman PCB, Najam Sethi thanked all the stakeholders for making the tournament a reality for the third year in the running. “I am grateful to all stakeholders, sponsors, franchises and the players for their outstanding support and contribution in making the HBL PSL prosper. I wish all captains the very best and I hope that we play some exciting cricket over the course of the next one month both in the UAE and the last leg in Pakistan.”

Sethi further said arrangements had been finalized to make the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) mighty successful.

“We have already organized two successful editions of the PSL and this edition is going to be even better,” he said.

He said all the franchises had paid the due amount for PSL and expressed the hope that people would enjoy the matches.

Sethi said the PSL had paved the way for revival of international cricket in Pakistan. “The West Indies would play a series in Pakistan after PSL 2018 while Pakistan would also play series with Australia and New Zealand in Malaysia soon,” he added.

To a question, he replied that the PCB has taken strict steps to curb match fixing in the PSL.

Before the Trophy unveiling at the stadium a special ‘Uber Trophy Handover’ was carried out, said the information made available here by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The Trophy was picked up in a helicopter that took off from the Atlantis Helipad, and landed at the Me’aisem City Centre.

The Trophy there was received by captain Daren Sammy of the reigning champions Peshawar Zalmi. The captains of the five other franchises Brendon McCullum (Lahore Qalandars), Shoaib Malik (Multan Sultans), Misbahul Haq (Islamabad United), Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings) and Sarfraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018