Excitement in the air as PSL trophy unveiled

DUBAI: “They are all coming for my title,” said Darren Sammy with a big smile on his face.He said it jokingly but it’s true.

The other five captains – Misbah-ul-Haq (Islamabad United), Sarfraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators), Brendon McCullum (Lahore Qalandars), Shoaib Malik (Multan Sultans) and Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings) — will certainly be gunning for the coveted title when the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) explodes into action here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from Thursday (tomorrow).

It is certainly going to be an intense event and Peshawar Zalmi, the defending champions, will face an uphill task to retain the crown. But on Tuesday there was a visible camaraderie between the six captains as the PSL trophy was unveiled in an impressive ceremony.

Sammy, the World Cup-winning former West Indian captain, hoped that his team will go on to play the final in Karachi on March 25.“I hope the tournament becomes more successful. I hope my team is still in the running when we get to Karachi (for the final).”

Before the Trophy unveiling at the Stadium a special “Uber Trophy Handover” was carried out.The Trophy was picked up from Swarovski office in an Uber Chopper that took off from the Atlantis Helipad, the Chopper landed at the Me’aisem City Centre.

At the Me’aisem City Centre, the Trophy was received by Sammy who was driven to the venue in an Uber Limousine.Sammy and the rest of the captains were driven to the Dubai Cricket Stadium (DSC) where the Trophy was unveiled.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by the management of the tournament and owners of the PSL franchises, along with top officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board.Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi thanked all the stakeholders for making the tournament a success.

“I am grateful to all stakeholders, sponsors, franchises and the players for their outstanding support and contribution in making the PSL prosper, I wish all captains the very best and I hope that we see exciting cricket over the course of the next one month both in the UAE and the last leg in Pakistan,” he commented.

Sethi gave a vote of confidence to Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who will lead the Gladiators in PSL saying “If someone can lead the Green Shirts, they can lead any side in the world.”

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain, praised Sethi for his role in the initiation and success of PSL.“Najam Sethi has done a great thing by holding PSL. It was a challenge and he took it on,” he said.