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Sallu expects high-voltage PSL this time

By Our Correspondent
February 22, 2018

LAHORE: Former chief of the national selection committee Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday anticipated a great spectacle of activities with the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) about to start in Dubai.

Salahuddin, popularly known among the cricketing circles as Sallu, while talking to The News from Karachi, said the fans across and length of the country are waiting for the action to start when Peshawar Zalmi open their title defence against PSL debutants Multan Sultans.

“Credit must be given to PCB chairman Najam Sethi for initiating the PSL project despite opposition from some quarters. The country needed this league to come up. It has started to flourish by leaps and bounds,” Sallu said.

“As Sethi says this brand is here to stay for a long time. PSL is now spoken in the same length as other leagues around the world. The participation of top international players is a good indicator of PSL’s growing reputation in such a short span of time.”

Commenting on the upcoming edition, Salahuddin also expected fierce contests between six evenly-matched outfits. “The addition of Multan Sultans has already added to the excitement and once the competition begins, one can anticipate big crowds at all 34 matches, even though there are only three fixtures to be played in Pakistan,” he remarked. “The rapid growth of PSL is going to benefit Pakistan cricket in the long run because the exposure and limelight players, particularly the younger brigade, get help them improve their game.

“Just imagine what will actually happen when the PSL is held entirely in Pakistan. I think there would be a tremendous interest at every place for the sport. Sethi is working extremely hard to ensure international cricket makes a full-fledged return to Pakistan and the PSL is a test case in achieving that goal.

“Last year’s final generated great excitement in Lahore and the Gaddafi Stadium wore a look of festivities on the day of the match. This time, we should expect more of the same if not less and by choosing Karachi as the venue for the final, Sethi has delivered a clear message to the cricketing nations ‘that Pakistan is safe as any other country to host international cricket’ and that itself is a very commendable act from the PCB chairman.”

Salahuddin, who is also Advisor (South) to PCB chairman, while assessing the upcoming matches in the PSL, rated all teams equally. “You can’t say that so and so is favourite for the title. Every franchise has worked behind the scene in picking a good squad. And that’s a very good sign in the sense it would lead to close matches,” the former Test cricketer opined. “However, I must say that the presence of Shahid Afridi in Karachi Kings could well be a blessing in disguise. Shahid doesn’t need introduction and his huge popularity would itself inspire Karachi to play scintillating cricket.“Overall, I see a high-voltage PSL this time coming up with an emotional ending to the T20 gala in Karachi set to add to the drama.”