In less than a week’s time – on Thursday, February 22 to be precise – the third season of the Pakistan Super League would kick off with the opening ceremony in Dubai, following by the clash between defending champions Peshawar Zalmi and the latest team to join the league, the Multan Sultans.
In only two seasons the PSL has given Pakistan cricket more than it could possibly have expected, as discussed in this space on many an occasion.
On the pitch, it brought Pakistan’s limited-overs sides closer to modernity, giving the players a platform to develop their skills to bring them up to par with the demands of the modern game – and beyond. In this regard, the PSL gave Pakistan fresh blood in the shape of Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, all three of whom are now budding superstars of the game.
Inaugural champions Islamabad United
It was the PSL that laid the foundation for Pakistan’s successes in the limited-overs format as the team sits atop the T20 rankings, having won all the series against Sarfraz Ahmed, whose captaincy itself was chiseled through his leadership of the Quetta Gladiators – the team that made it to the finals of both of the first two editions.
These developments have pushed the ODI side as well, which jolted the world with the Champions Trophy win last summer. Of course, there are many chinks that still mar the ODI side, but it’s the PSL that has pushed the limited-overs cricket forward for Pakistan.
Of similar importance is the fact that the final of PSL2 was held in Lahore, even though the city had been jarred by bombings just a couple of weeks before the event. It was the PSL final, especially the fact that the Zalmi management managed to convince all of their foreign contingent to tour Pakistan – under the leadership of Darren Sammy – that helped pave the way for formal return of international cricket.
National Stadium Karachi
While successful staging of matches in Pakistan with leading international stars remains the priority, PSL 3 can help boost the national ODI side as well
The PSL final was followed by the ICC World XI touring Lahore in September, and then Sri Lanka playing the final T20 of the three match series in October. Other sporting events that have followed the PSL 2 final are the Ronaldinho & Friends football series in Karachi and Lahore, and the hockey World XI touring both cities last month as well.
It is those successes that have meant that two playoffs and the final of PSL 3 will be played in Lahore and Karachi respectively this year.
And so, with the first two editions of the PSL already bringing so much success to Pakistan cricket, what should be the expectations for the third season?
First and foremost, successfully hosting the playoffs and the final in Pakistan would add to the continuity of streamlining the return of international cricket to the country. With the final in Karachi, it would also mean that this return of world class cricket isn’t limited to Lahore, and is slowly spreading to other cities as well.
Champions Trophy winners - Pakistan
Defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi
Furthermore, just like it was the participation of Zalmi’s foreign contingent that made the PSL 2 final a success, these playoffs need to have the presence of all top international players for them to be a step forward. In this regard, the likes of Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators have already been making the right noises, and after convincing their foreign stars to come to Lahore in stiffer conditions, the Zalmi should have the complete contingent once again this season.
On the pitch, Pakistan are in need of batsmen that can play aggressive cricket with longevity and consistency. While the PSL has helped bring quite a few T20 players to the fore, Pakistan continue to lack batsmen who can go big for a long enough time, and on a regular enough basis, to help boost up the ODI side.
There is little doubt that with the strides taken in the first two seasons, PSL 3 would further solidify the brand and establish itself among the very top T20 franchise leagues in the world. And if the national sides continue to pay dividends at the same rate, the PSL would continue to be the best thing to have happened to Pakistan cricket in recent times.
