Pakistan Super League tournament to begin in Karachi amid tight security today

Cutouts of cricket players display outside the Gaddafi Stadium for the upcoming country's premier domestic Twenty20 tournament 'Pakistan Super League' in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP)

• Pakistani popstars Atif Aslam and Aima Baig will perform at the opening ceremony of the country’s most popular T20 contest
• Defending champion Multan Sultans will clash with Karachi Kings after the star-studded inauguration ceremony

KARACHI: The seventh edition of the country’s most popular HBL Pakistan Super League T20 cricket tournament is scheduled to commence in Karachi on Thursday amid tight security, said a senior police official while talking to Arab News.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also said on Wednesday the country’s legendary popstar Atif Aslam and singing sensation Aima Baig were expected to bedazzle people with their performance at the opening ceremony which would be followed by a faceoff between defending champion Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings.
Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam, who has record number of T20I wins to his credit in a single calendar year, will lead Karachi Kings while Mohammad Rizwan, who became the first-ever batter to score more than 1,000 T20I runs last year, will lead Multan Sultans.
Karachi on Wednesday reported 1,542 new COVID-19 cases with an infection rate of 40.91 percent. However, the country’s cricket board has already announced strict measures to prevent the virus spread during the tournament.
Going by the directives of the National Command and Operation Center, the PCB has reduced the seating capacity of the National Cricket Stadium to 25 percent for the first 15 matches to be played in Karachi. T
It is yet to announce its decision on the number of spectators during the second phase of the tournament which will be held in Lahore.
“We have taken strict security measures to make the tournament a success,” said Muqadas Haider, deputy inspector general of police who looks after the city’s eastern zone where the cricket stadium is located.
He said 6,000 police personnel would perform security duty at different routes in and around the tournament venue.
“Paramilitary Rangers have also been asked to perform security duty in the city,” he added.
The first few editions of the tournament attracted large numbers of people in the United Arab Emirates – where PSL was launched – and Pakistan.
However, analysts maintain they have still not witnessed enough enthusiasm for the contest during this year.
“We haven’t seen the usual passion this year but we should not forget the tournament is being held in an age of COVID-19,” Abdul Majid Bhatti, cricket journalist and analyst, told Arab News.
He added it would be a huge achievement if PCB successfully managed to complete the tournament, adding it was vital for the revival of cricket in the country.
Bhatti said Pakistan was expecting four international teams, including Australia, New Zeeland and England, in the coming months.
“If this tournament is successfully held with the participation of international players according to schedule, it will pave the way for the arrival of international teams,” he noted while pointing out that a recent militant attack in a crowded market in Lahore had once again raised security concerns.
Apart from the two teams that will play the first match on Thursday, Lahore Qalandars are captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi who has witnessed a meteoric rise in international cricket since his debut in 2018.
Islamabad United are led by Shadab Khan while Sarfaraz Ahmed will continue to command Quetta Gladiators.
Peshawar Zalmi will be led by Wahab Riaz.
PSL has established itself as one of the top T20 leagues around the world and has featured some of the best international cricketers.
Given the competitiveness of the tournament, the league has witnessed five out of six sides getting crowned as champions since its inception in 2016.
The inaugural champions, Islamabad United, are the only ones to have bagged the title twice.
Peshawar Zalmi won the tournament in 2017 after beating Quetta Gladiators in the final match in Lahore. This was also the first HBL PSL contest that took place on Pakistan’s soil.
According to PCB, Pakistani cricket fans will be able to watch all the matches on A Sports and PTV Sports.
HBL PSL 7 will also be broadcast around the world by Fox Sports (Australia), Etisalat (Middle-East and North Africa), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sky NZ (New Zealand), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sony (South Asia outside Pakistan), Super Sports (Sub-Saharan Africa) and Willow TV (North America).
Daraz App will live-stream the action in Pakistan, while OTT platforms ICC TV and Tapmad will also telecast the tournament.