The Pakistan super league season 8 concluded with Lahore Qalanders becoming the first team to win a trophy on consecutive terms and Shaheen Shah Afridi a first captain to lift the PSL trophy twice is a testament to his incredible leadership and cricketing skills. The clash between high class talent, with lightning fast bowlers and world class batter’s fight for 38 days for the trophy.
With Chairman Management Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi also claiming that the digital media ratings of the eighth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 have been higher than the Indian Premier League (IPL), claiming 150 rating points for HBL PSL in 2023 compared to 130 of IPL 2022.
PSL has given a new mode of entertainment to the public after multiple failed attempts, with PCB likely to introduce two more teams in PSL 9 next year, the Pakistan Super league will accommodate more players both foreign and local, adding more matches in league stage, with Peshawar stadium also ready to host matches. The PSL is seeming to become the super league in a true sense, which saw many foreign and local players introducing themselves to the international arena.
The comparison of PSL with IPL or BBL is now real as PSL has produced superstars like Harry Brook, Tim David, Rillie Rossow, Haris Rouf, Ishanullah, Mohammad Haris who are now playing T20 leagues across the globe.
The talent PSL is producing is also acknowledged by cricket greats, who were impressed by the local talent in Pakistan, with international cricketer stars like Kiren pollard, Alex Hales, Martin Guptil, Sam Billings playing full season of PSL this year added the acing on the cake for the cricket loving nation.
The arrangements by PCB, the work by ground staff, the sponsors make this PSL a huge success, and with an advanced draft system of payment to players, now more foreign players are willing to tour Pakistan.
The jam pack stadiums in Multan, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore with electrifying crowds supporting their teams, the players also enjoyed their movements, with most of the matches now being high scoring events, the fast bowlers were also at their best taking most wickets While Ishanullah becoming first bowler to be declared player of the tournament.
Baring one incident, when the matches played in Rawalpindi and Lahore were threatened to be postponed with government of Punjab not ready to provide security to the matches citing payment issues to the security personnel, the PSL was played with lot of enthusiasm, patriotism and the security provided by government was top notch, as there was no hiccup in security breach or any other issue.
With current situation of the country, elections in two provinces due in coming months, the bank corrupt threat looming over the head, the soaring inflation, PSL remained the only source of entertainment to the people of Pakistan, the pleasant whether, culture and hospitality of Pakistan were appreciated by everyone from foreign coaches to international umpires.
The cricket lovers of Pakistan were deprived of this entertainment after the 2007 firing incident on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, but the hard work of the Pakistan cricket board has now paid off by first hosting PSL in UAE and then full-fledged seasons in Pakistan. The next season of PSL will add more spice to the already highly rated cricket league with more superstars willing to tour Pakistan after recent success of PSL and full tours of England, Australia and New Zealand.