Things are heating up in Dubai, which is playing host to the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Twenty20 tournament has gotten our attention for several reasons. Aside from celebrity endorsements and support (which we will come back to…) PSL will provide a learning curve to aspiring youngsters as they rub shoulders with legendary cricketers like Sir Vivian Richards and the collective explosive talent of the likes of Shane Watson, Kevin Pieterson among many notable others.
Things are heating up in Dubai, which is playing host to the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Twenty20 tournament has gotten our attention for several reasons. Aside from celebrity endorsements and support (which we will come back to…) PSL will provide a learning curve to aspiring youngsters as they rub shoulders with legendary cricketers like Sir Vivian Richards and the collective explosive talent of the likes of Shane Watson, Kevin Pieterson among many notable others.
Five teams will feature in PSL: Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi and it seems every team has an anthem from the likes of Ali Azmat, Faakhir, Asrar Shah and others.
Like its Indian counterpart Indian Premier League (IPL), this tournament has a fair share of star quotient with celebrities endorsing various teams. Islamabad United counts Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar as ambassador and team voice respectively. Other celebrities to endorse teams include Adnan Siddique, Faysal Qureshi, Ahsan Khan, Humaima Malick among others.
The opening ceremony, slated to take place later today, will feature a performance from Ali Zafar (who has also sung the PSL official anthem, ‘Khel Ke Dekha’) rap-reggae artist Sean Paul (famous for the annoyingly addictive single ‘Get Busy’) and Pakistan’s original rock god Ali Azmat. The lead pair of Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza from upcoming Pakistani film Bachaana are also scheduled to perform and charm the audience. It should make for an entertaining evening mixed with some blistering cricket… or so we hope.
