Rewind-PSL Season 1

The ultimate valentine for Pakistani Fans,PSL Season 3 is around the corner with the star studded and action packed event to start from 22 February,2018.It has been already a success with producing so much youngsters and giving Pakistan a much needed brand displaying the Positive Image of nation.With the season 3 approaching,why not rewind the buzz and glories of Debut Season of Pakistan Super League.

                                                #AbKhelKeDikha was the Punchline when PSL was introduced to world’s cricket. A unique sense of buzz and excitement was in air all over Pakistan when it was announced by PCB Chairman Najam Sethi,then, that Long Awaited Idea of Cricket league of PSL is going to be fulfilled in Feb 2016.It’s basic purpose was to Give the much needed platform for youngsters to show their abilities and boost confidence by playing alongside string of international pros.The ultimate goal of PSL was to Bring Cricket Back to Home which has been derived since that black Day of March 2009 when SL team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore.PSL seemed to be the best possible way to breaking the ice on that front.

Auction process for franchises were successfully held with ARY the most expensive buying the Karachi Kings.The other brands proudly shared their part in owning their teams as well.Then came the Drafting of Players.This idea was based on NBA and it added another flair to PSL as well with dynamism involved in it.The super stars like Watson,Gayle ,KP ,Malinga and many others were bought by big money balls from respective teams.

                                    Dubai took the centre stage with hosting the inaugural season being the second home for Pakistan quite over 7 years. The preparations then went underway in Pakistan and Dubai for making it a real success. Franchises started promotion and launching ceremonies really put the gas into the cylinders which was about to explode in coming months.PSL official anthem become the national song then which was a real master-piece by Ali Zafar the popular rockstar.Teams also made their anthems which raised the passion among their fans. A sense of ownership for regions and nationalism produced due to that promotion.Ramiz Raja and Waseem Akram were signed up as Official Ambassadors of League.

                                    Then came the long awaited day,4th of February,2016 when Sheikh Mubarak Al Naiyhhaan inaugurated that brand of Pakistan in the star

 studded opening ceremony.

 That proud feeling of having own Brand was feeling was second to none.Ali Zafar,Sean Paul took the limelight for their block-buster performances.Then came the Mighty Gayle’s Gangnam Style which was the peak point of ceremony.

Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza performed musical trailer of their upcoming film as well.

After the colourful ceremony the Opening encounter between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators. Islamabad United set off to a comfortable start in a one sided low scoring encounter against Sarfaraz’Gladiators.The event took the pace slowly but gradually and when teams chemistry got matched there were some nail bitting finishes like the memorable encounter between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars(Match 18) when Qalandars were beaten by final over strokes from Mohammad Nabi facing the Left armer Zohaib Khan chasing 202,making it the highest total record by a team and it remains still to be broken.Umer Akmal,Shahid Afridi ,Watson were main performers during the Round Robin Stage but Amir grabbed all the headlines for picking an astonishing hat trick vs their Arch Rivals Lahore Qalandars.

That was quite an achievement .The group table looked like that at end of pool matches:

Then came the Play-off phase which really shaped off the thrilling season nicely.First Qualifier was between Quetta Gladiators and Group Leader Peshawar Zalmi led by ever lit Shahid Afridi.This was THE MATCH of the PSL.It had all ,the nerves,the class and thrill which t20 cricket brings.Peshawar Zalmi needed 8 off last over and then came the forgotten hero of Asia Cup 2012,Aizaz Cheema who took 2 wickets and gave only 2 runs to clinch a real thriller.What scenes there were with Sarfaraz Flying and Sir Viv jumping up and down.That was PSL’s Climax and that memory will last forever.

.Islamabad United won the eliminator vs Karachi Kings by late surge of Asif Zakir and Bradd Haddin.

Then came Playoff 2,between Rising Islamabad and wounded Peshawar Zalmi.If Amir in group caught headlines for grabbing first hat trick of PSL,Sharjeel in that match was equal to it with his stunning master strokes scoring a mega 100 and Peshawar Zalmi had no answers to it.Islamabad United won the qualifying playoff with major statement of it.It set up the Grand Finale between Quetta Gladiators

PSL had been a big  success to that point already with so much quality display and jam packed crowds it got attention all over the world.With the final approaching PSL was heart-robe of every Pakistani because #CricketJorrayPakistan.Feb 23,2016 the ultimate Day on which the Grand Final too place in jam packed Dubai Cricket Stadium.Kumar Sangakarra slammed a 32 ball 55 to give huge target of 174.At that point battle was evenly locked.But Bradd Haddin has other ideas that day ,he stayed unbeaten 61 after blazing start with Dwayne Smith.When Misbah nudged away the penultimate single to the led side,an ultimate glory was achieved by Islamabad United for becoming the Inaugural Champions and Misbah to put away that final run was sucha a bestowment to his marathon career of success.The crowd erupted and Islu players were running all around he ground.Gladiators though ground on their heads,but they had done it all to win the hearts of whole Pakistan.

Misbah ul Haq took the charming Trophy along with joyous team but it was Pakistan who won the Ultimate Battle.

                                                PSL Season 1 in short, was a real BOOMING statement of success and independent brand of Cricket because #AbKhelJamayGA as we Zalmi,Gladiators,Qalandars,Kings are UNITED.