End of PSL 6??!!!
“Today, Sarfaraz broke two jinxes by not only winning for Quetta but also winning despite batting first”
With everyone seated comfortably on the sofas, we (siblings) began demanding a treat from our mother as it was the first time her team won a match in HBL PSL 6. Her eyes were gleaming with happiness as the feeling of success in a do-or-die game remains parallel to none! My team? Oh, in our family, everyone has selected his/her team in light of several aspects and every match turns into a duel, not only in the stadium but also at our home as our passionate side sometimes overshadows our love as siblings turn into arch rivals with pride associated with how our team fare.
PSL is for Pakistan
I get that bit! With every success, the grand victor is Pakistan with everyone praying that one day PSL becomes the leading global league with stars such as STARC, STEVEN SMITH, WILLIAMSON, STOKES, etc. gracing the event with their presence. Nevertheless, a sense of possessiveness is associated with the city you love the most as you pray against all odds, they are the undisputed Champions!
While many deem such rivalries as foolish and unjustified, I think this is the beauty of this League. How many do you think actually watch Cricket? I don’t think many fans turn on their televisions for every match as most of them either remain unconcerned or just check the scorecard from time to time. But with PSL, EVERYONE I KNOW, TRIES THEIR LEVEL BEST TO TUNE IN FOR EACH MATCH AND IF THEY COULD NOT…..CHECK THE HIGHLIGHTS AS THE BARE MINIMUM! How often do you see that?
What is PSL?
The literal definition can be seen as just the tip of the iceberg as this League is way more than one can fathom.
PSL is the diversity it brings!
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), David Weise (South Africa), Samit Patel (England), Shaheen Shah, and Harris Rauf……the mere bowling attack of Lahore Qalandars depicts the variety and diversity of the players available for the franchises. Moving onto the coaching staff and with Peshawar Zalmi, you can’t help notice the two time West Indian World T20 winning Captain, Darren Sammy cheering his team as the classy Hashim Amla who racked runs and broke records during his stint with South Africa, scribbles notes regarding the batting of his team. The cherry on the top is the Sikh speedster who is eager to get a chance to showcase that he has what he needs to represent Pakistan at the top stage.
PSL is the reward for the endless struggle one has gone through!
Every year, you get to see several lads take the stage for themselves, showing what they have, converting their years of struggle to absolute master-class, announcing their arrival in a grand manner! Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, the list goes on as we were lucky enough to unearth these gems solely based on their performances at this league. Last year, one of my favorite hard hitters, Haider Ali earned his spot in the Pakistan Cricket team, ending his years of being a waiter at a restaurant at Attock, to smashing the English bowlers in the T20s he played there! From dishes to man up against Harris Rauf to playing against Tim Southee, PSL is this journey that we don’t value. In my opinion, the Champions Trophy of 2017 was a result of that year’s PSL as our squad was injected with the youth, passion, and unpredictability of the likes of Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, and Fakhar Zaman.
PSL is the cute moments that aren’t shown on the International Forum!
Last night, I was lucky enough to be watching the young Shahnawaz Dahani steaming in with deadly Yorkers accompanied by the blistering pace of 150 km/h! What followed was just too beautiful! The lad who is even younger than me was surrounded by the likes of the spin wizard Imran Tahir and the World Cup Hero of West Indies Carlos Braithwaite (“remember the name”) as they celebrated in the cutest manner which melted my heart. If that wasn’t enough, the lad sent flying kisses to all his fans in the post innings interview. Up next, we would focus on the injured Sarfaraz who was the lone fighter in the match between Quetta and Islamabad. He was struggling and two players who were once his able deputies in the Pakistani Team, Shadab and Hassan Ali come to their former skipper and lend him a hand, helping him! This is of added significance considering the fall of this leader and how he now has personal spats with certain players of the team and critics constantly coming at him! Stay Strong Captain! We believe in you!
PSL is the competitive rivalry that has the element of respect in it!
SHAHEEN vs BABAR- the two TITANS of Pakistan Cricket Go Head to Head! One being the future of Pakistan with records to validate his position as the Ace of Pakistani Bowling. The other, the “PRINCE” of Pakistan Cricket, renowned worldwide for his mesmerizing batting, easily being one of the best in the World. Last year, these two faced off twice as the steaming in fast bowler was taken to the cleaners with Babar making him look like a fool! Whatever Shaheen threw at him, Babar humbled him with something even better! The whole world witnessed how Babar was light years ahead of the best bowler Pakistan had. The rivalry ended with smiles as Shaheen admitted his loss. This year, being a Lahore fan, even I wasn’t optimistic about Shaheen undoing Babar with my bet on Samit considering the struggle Babar had against left-arm off-spin (Maharaj). First over, Sohail Akhtar dropped the simplest catch of Sharjeel Khan as Shaheen lost his cool. The calm and composed pacer was now absolutely furious with what he saw, with him putting in everything he had on every delivery that was to follow. Next over, he finally came across his rival as instantly, the batsman faulted with an edge that narrowly escaped the outstretched hand of Fakhar Zaman at first slip, racing towards the boundary. Imagine the agony for the bowler as he saw his both chances wasted due to under-par fielding. In sheer anger, he let a loose one down the leg side as it went for four wide, making me think Shaheen is bound to lose this battle too. However, as my coach once said, Cricket is a game that can last only 10 balls. Up stepped Shaheen with a blistering delivery, clocking 149 km/h, shaping in, brushing the pad of an unbalanced Babar, as the ball escaped through the gap between bat and bowl, disturbing the woodwork!
I was expecting the typical Shaheen Afridi celebration, with his arms outstretched as everyone ran to grab hold of him but surprisingly, the hands were not depicting the traditional celebration. The lad went to Babar, joked something and both of them had a laugh while embracing one another. How rare is this sight? Despite that match being a nail-bitter with multiple highlights, for me, that particular moment was what PSL is all about. The mutual respect and love are just inspiring and I pray that this remains constant throughout the years!
PSL is about the Fans!
“AMIR! AMIR! AMIR!” Imagine, thousands of people chanting your name! Well, unlike them, if someone shouts my name, I automatically assume I have done something wrong but they aren’t me. Their aspirations and happiness relying on your actions as they all believe in you. At that moment, you aren’t alone at all, as you are being backed by millions of others who have their eyes glued at the television “weekhay ga crowd mera groove TV tay” (I won’t lie but I love that song now). Their love translates into an even better performance as, Amir, bowled an absolute peach of a delivery to dismiss Joe Denly on the very first ball, prompting the whole crowd to stand in admiration of what they were witnessing. Amir is finished? Well, for his critics, look at the highlights of a fully motivated Amir rip through the Lahore batting line-up!
Even those who aren’t there in person, this PSL meant the world! Fighting with one another on why their team is way better than others, defending the miserable losses of their team while mocking others with their wins, this is just the most beautiful relationship! As a Lahore Fan, every year I welcome PSL with open arms, praying against all hope that this is the year we sign off as champions, bearing all trolls with the belief that one day, this team is going to WIN! Even going to the stadium to watch every possible match I could find!
PSL is our source of happiness and joy as we all anxiously await its arrival with a month-long entertainment which lasts the whole year until the next one! While this year, the management had to end it early, with it being postponed until further notice, due to the risk of Corona, in reality, the heart is deeply saddened with this abrupt end. I was eagerly awaiting the Lahore vs Islamabad match due to the historical importance this fixture has in my life. The unexpected postponement of the league brings along hundreds of questions that one may struggle to answer at the moment, but our hearts are hoping against hope that the tournament returns with the same vigor, energy, sportsmanship, becoming our canvas of happiness!
