Pakistan Super League kicks off today in UAE

Pakistan Super League’s opening match will be played between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators

DUBAI – Finally the much-awaited Pakistan Super League (PSL) is about to start at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The first match of Pakistan Super League’s opening edition between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators will begin at 09:00 pm as per Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

The franchise-based T20 league, consisting of five teams including Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, will continue till February 23.

Islamabad United picked one of the strongest teams of this PSL 2016. They have the hard-hitting West-Indian All-rounder Andre-Russell, and they already appointed Misbah-ul-haque as their captain.

Islamabd United have Aussie wicket-keeper Brad Haddin in the late-order and left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan as a lower-order hard-hitter. Their bowling line-up is also strong enough with the Pakistan international fast bowler Mohammad Irfan along with the quick leg breaks of Samuel Badree and their head coach is Dean Jones and Wasim Akarm is their team mentor.

Quetta Gladiators has quietly adopted the ‘dark horses’ tag even before the start of the tournament. Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq and Luke Wright add to the batting firepower with the experienced duo of Umar Gul and Zulfiqar Babar shepherding the bowlers. Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed as their caption.

All the PSL matches will be played in Dubai and Sharjah as security reasons did not permit Pakistan to host its biggest cricket event. However, in an interview last month, the PSL Chairman Najam Sethi expressed the optimism to bring international cricket back into Pakistan.

The stage is set for a new chapter on Pakistan cricket. The teams are up for it and ass the legendary ring-announcer Michael Buffer would say – ‘It’s time. Let’s get ready to rumble’.