PSL opening night proves product is positively Pakistani

Barnaby Read 01:40 10/02/2017
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  • The PSL returned in Dubai on Thursday night.

    The Pakistan Super League returned for its second edition in Dubai on Thursday night with Islamabad United getting their title defence off to the perfect start with a seven-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi – with an appearance from Duckworth-Lewis – in a match that had a little bit of everything.

    Earlier, a glitzy opening ceremony stirring a near full-capacity stadium into a state of delirious excitement in stark contrast to those among us that find such ceremonious arduous viewing.

    A cultural showcase of the country and the world renowned Shaggy and Pakistan singing sensations Shehzad Roy and Ali Zafar did their bit before a fitting firework display ensured Dubai’s Ring of Fire stadium kicked off the new season with a very apt and very literal bang.

    The smoke settled, the pitch was cleared and players finally got to throwing balls about and going through their warm-up routines.

    The toss came and went, suggesting proceedings were imminently underway as the ground breaking 2017 PSL roared into life.

    But, that roar was painfully exhausted, reduced to a whimper by a near hour-long delay that pushed an already late 9pm start to just shy of 10 o’clock.

    It was the kind of release of air asked of by your doctor as they put a stethoscope to your chest and checks your heart rate. There are pangs of concern but it is as you expected before you made your appointment.

    As ESPN Cricinfo’s Osman Samiuddin posed to his followers on Twitter; Would this be a true Pakistan product without it turning up late to its own party?

    It was clearly rhetorical, the delay far more predictable than anything else on display and as Pakistani an identifier as the salmar kameez adorned by the dancers earlier in proceedings.

    The patience of the crowd was admirable as they watched staff attempt to address the issue at hand; a large white screen behind the bowler’s arm at the Emirates Road end that had earlier displayed the superb graphics of the opening ceremony.

    That patience was rewarded when Mohammad Hafeez edged Mohammad Irfan to second slip first-ball.

    Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi

    • Peshawar Zalmi 190-9
    • Kamran Akmal (88); Shane Watson (4-44)
    • Islamabad United 175-3 (D/L)
    • Brad Haddin (73), Dwayne Smith (55)

    The bang was firmly reinserted to the piece, the fireworks finally coming from those with bat and ball in hand.

    It was cruel on Hafeez who had sat waiting with his pads on for 50 minutes only to get a diamond. Considering his own misfortunes over the past couple of years, it was another rather fitting exercise.

    The players were even forced off due to rain – of all things – during the Islamabad reply, a poetic twist in the reflection of the PSL’s perfect storm unfolding.

    Despite all of this, the evening was a perfect start for the fans and PCB, their tournament designed to take cricket back to the Promised Land showing it was a product to be proud of and one that, with a little love and patience, delivers against the odds.

    That was substantiated by the superb attendance for opening night, which was harmed by the late finish and interfering rain, but still kept enough punters interested enough to stay to the end in order to see Shahid Afrifi in action and a finely poised match go all the way to its last over.

    More importantly, the rolling out of the red carpet showed that it is a Pakistan product to be proud of, the nation’s identity flowing through its veins.

    From Islamabad United’s local garms to the construction mishap and Kamran Akmal launching the first six of the tournament over the ropes, PSL 2017’s opening salvos reeked of Pakistan.

    That may be even truer once the final heads to Lahore, with foreign players’ involvement largely doubtful and entirely Pakistan teams a feasible possibility.

    As much as that would be disappointing for the immediate return of tours on home soil, it would be yet another example of how successful this tournament has been in producing something in the nation’s own image.

    As long as this momentum can be carried on, that should be celebrated both home and abroad.

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