The T20 cricket format is entertaining enough, especially for those manic cricket fans out there, but this is Instep and our celebrity obsession goes beyond cricket into the acts and beats of entertainment stars. The best thing about Pakistan Super League, you have to admit, is that all shapes and genres of stars come together to boost Pakistani cricket on an international platform.
“PSL is making people happy in Pakistan and I believe that making people happy is also a part of spirituality,” Abida Parveen summed it up at the HBL PSL 2018 Artist Press Conference.
Dubai: The T20 cricket format is entertaining enough, especially for those manic cricket fans out there, but this is Instep and our celebrity obsession goes beyond cricket into the acts and beats of entertainment stars. The best thing about Pakistan Super League, you have to admit, is that all shapes and genres of stars come together to boost Pakistani cricket on an international platform. The HBL PSL 2018 Artist Press Conference at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, therefore, generated a frenzy of excitement about everything and everyone coming together for the third edition of the tournament, which kick started with the match between defending champions, Peshawer Zalmis and a sixth new team, the Multan Sultans.
This story went into print hours before the match began so we obviously don’t know who won, but we do know and love the vibe that the artists generated before all cricket mania broke loose! The most important message was one of peace and tolerance and acceptance of art and entertainment as an integral and progressive part of life. Therefore, this year played on a Sufi theme.
“PSL is making people happy in Pakistan and I believe that making people happy is also a part of spirituality,” the legendary (and I don’t use the term loosely) Abida Parveen said at the press conference. Her aura was larger than life and it was no wonder that the other artists at the table – Ali Zafar, Shehzad Roy, Bilal Ashraf and Hareem Farooq - addressed her in absolute reverence.
“How do I sing ‘seeti bajay gi’ in front of her?” Ali Zafar laughed, before asking her permission to sing a few lines from the 2018 HBL PSL anthem.
“I am having an absolute fan moment,” Hareem exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. She was sitting next to Abida jee, which was “unbelievable” she said.
The opening ceremony of PSL 2016 was hosted by Yasir Hussain and Sanam Saeed while PSL 2017’s opening ceremony was emceed by Fahad Mustafa. This year Hareem Farooq and Bilal Ashraf had flown in to host the opening ceremony and Hareem made a strong statement about the way Pakistan Super League was playing an integral role in changing the image of Pakistan in the world.
“The world watches PSL; it’s a huge platform and this is a great way to tell the world that women in Pakistan are not like what they think,” she said after I asked her how it felt to be the co-host at the opening ceremony.
“This is a huge responsibility,” she added. “We’re amidst legendary people right now. We want to tell the world that we play too and that we’re fun-loving people too. We represent Pakistan, especially on international platforms, and this is our responsibility.”
“It’s important for any society to have soul and cricket is part of our soul,” Shehzad Roy said, weighing in on the relevance and importance of PSL and the way it tied up with music.
“We still see music as a taboo in our society,” he added. “We listen to it and dance to it but we don’t give it the kind of respect it deserves. Names like Abida Parveen and Sachal Studios lend it respect and soul. They give out the message of peace, progress and tolerance.”
When asked about the PSL final, scheduled to take place in Karachi, Shehzad said, “It’s a paradigm shift that the final is in Karachi.”
Pakistan Super League is quite a success story. Flying in to Dubai, one saw huge screens lit up at the airport, as well as banners and posters all across town and being at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium a day before the opening ceremony and match just revealed how much planning and hard work had gone into making sure that the event, and subsequently the country, is branded properly.
“You’ll see one of the finest flying systems at the stadium for the very first time,” said Samer Feghali, the Lebanese, London-based director of The Musketeers, responsible for putting the show on the road, or rather the pitch! “If you think that last year’s show was good then this year it’s ten times as big. The sufi scene is going to be magical. You have the National Anthem, followed by the sufi dancers, Shehzad Roy and Ali Zafar in the beginning. Even the team entrance is not like any other year!”
We’re sure you witnessed it all play out yesterday night. Watch this space for more stories.
