DUBAI: Back after a year’s absence, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell feels that he is returning to top level cricket with a much mature frame of mind.
Russell, who played a lead role in bringing the opening Pakistan Super League edition trophy to Islamabad United, rejoined the team on Friday after serving a one-year ban for violating ICC whereabouts clause.
“It has been really tough. Watching the game when you are fit and still you cannot play had been a strange feeling. The lost time, however, has given me maturity. And now I feel and realise that I can offer more to the game of cricket to what I gave in the past.”
He added that he did not lose heart during the ban which started in January 2017 and kept on playing and training privately.“I did not lose heart and did all I can with the help of bowling machine and amateur cricketers to keep myself ready and best of groove.”
The hard hitting Russell said he learnt more about the game as a spectator. “Some time the best players are spectators and that is the reason I learnt more about the game as a spectator. Now I feel that staying at the wicket is as important as hitting the ball. I hope that this new understanding of the game would help me more in future.”
Russell said since he had played as an all-rounder his efforts would be to contribute in all departments. “My hunger for big scores, wickets and even holding good catches has grown. So what I want is to contribute in all these departments.”
Meanwhile, the curtain raiser of the PSL’s third edition Thursday night cleared all the doubts if there were any about this rapidly growing and glowing image of one of the youngest of the T20 leagues around.
Abida Parveen mystical voice backed by glitz and glamour spearheaded by none other than Ali Zafar gave a resounding opening to a month-long event.The opening ceremony was a fine combination of laser lights, mystic voice and modern dancing. A model descended with the PSL trophy that was later handed over to Zalmi’s captain Darren Sammy marked the opening and then it followed by fanfare using the most modern techniques of laser lighting. It all was capped with enthralling and entertaining firework that lit up Dubai skies.
The wonderful opening ceremony left no doubts in the mind of viewers on the ground and around the world that the PSL has already emerged as the front-runners in the T20 leagues. The perfect start of the third edition and a hope that one day we would see the same in Lahore or Karachi infused more interest for those who travel all the way from Pakistan to become part of the ceremony.
“I have not missed even a single opening ceremony during the last three years. What I want is to see the same fanfare in Lahore or Multan. I am eager to watch the next year opening ceremony in Pakistan,” said Ch Zulfiqar Ali Anjum, who travelled from Multan with his son to watch the opening ceremony.The top businessman of Multan was also accompanied by over 200 people who he called his business stakeholders.“I charted the entire plane from Multan to Dubai and brought with me my distributors to watch the first part of the PSL,” Zulfiqar added.
Zulfiqar was not alone here from Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium but many well-known faces from media, film industry and sports reached here for the occasion only. Nearly entire Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was here to watch the curtain raiser of the third edition.
“In all definitions, it was an impressive opening which had everything for everyone. Laser light show and its impact on the entire atmosphere backed by excellent performance by artists made it a worth remembering occasion,” said Shakil Shaikh, who is the head of Islamabad Region Cricket and advisor to PCB chairman Najam Sethi.
