A Tale of Two Tournaments: MCL vs PSL

Barnaby Read 10:50 17/02/2016
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  • Both tournaments have had distinct positives and negatives.

    Both in their first editions, both showcasing T20 cricket and both being played in the UAE; the crossover of the Masters Champions League and Pakistan Super League has been an incredibly interesting one to witness.

    Three days after the MCL came to its conclusion in Dubai, the PSL rolled back into town in rather quiet fashion on Tuesday night.

    It had enjoyed some serious in success in Sharjah, where crowds flocked for weekend games – their appetites whetted by the prospect of seeing Shahid Afridi in the flesh.

    SPIRITUAL HOMES?

    Such was the interest at the weekend that esteemed Pakistan cricket writer Osman Samiuddin reported large numbers of cricket fans actually queuing outside the stadium for tickets, a development likely never before seen in Sharjah.

    After such a show, what greeted their move back to Dubai was disappointing.

    Barely 100 people had sat down for the toss, with only a few more in their seats once Chris Gayle and Azhar Ali walked to the wicket.

    For a match containing the PSL’s two biggest foreign names in Gayle and counterpart Kevin Pietersen, it was a tough scene to comprehend.

    It’s a tired story of empty crowds in the UAE, one long explored by all observers of the game but one that remains relevant each time one rocks up to a game only to see those bright blue seats at the Sports City stadium in Dubai staring back as a stark reminder of a bleak reality.

    The MCL went out with a relative bang last weekend and was nearly at half capacity for its finale, while the PSL rocked Sharjah with the type of euphoric support that fans of the game romantically associate with Indian and Pakistani cricket.

    It seems the PSL has found a spiritual home in Sharjah, a place where the MCL struggled. Yet, in Dubai, where the MCL enjoyed sporadic success, the PSL hasn’t drawn in supporters in the same manner.

    A FRUITFUL RETIREMENT AND T20 ILLUSION

    As the likes of Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag went at it in the MCL, you had to wonder how much PSL stars such as Gayle and Pietersen have taken note of a glimpse into their own futures.

    There is no doubt that franchise T20 cricket is dominating the sport and as players begin to prioritise it over the international game, tournaments like the MCL represent a very real way in which players can prolong their careers and eek every bit of monetary gain from their time in the middle.

    And although the MCL was laced with issues, those casting a furtive gaze at the inaugural edition would have definitely been pleased with one thing: its unquestionable razzamatazz.

    Compared to the PSL, the MCL absolutely nailed the aesthetics when it came to the glitz and glamour of game night.

    Whereas the PSL had lights swaying across the upper reaches of the stadium, the MCL was brought to life by its fireworks, flames, music and the on-field presence of broadcasters – ensuring observers never failed to have something to look at.

    After all, this is what franchise cricket is all about: A smoke and mirrors game of deception that means the most impatient of people in the stands can forget that this game is the sibling of a five-day affair that can often end in a draw.

    Flames go up in an MCL contest.

    Flames go up in an MCL contest.

    A PAKISTANI PRODUCT

    The PSL is underwhelming in that sense, but does remain firmly rooted in Pakistan, something worn proudly on the sleeve of all involved.

    It is seen as a gateway through which international consequence can finally returning to Pakistan and it is built around the identity of its people, none more so evident than in the Pakistani MC over the tannoy and use of local music being played by the DJ, rather than the pop equivalent at MCL matches.

    What both tournaments can be proud of is serving up intriguing fixtures on the pitch, which is testament to the investment made by both the MCL and PSL to bring in the best names possible.

    And as a spectacle, another illusion that brought great reward for the PSL in Dubai was bringing the boundary in ten/fifteen yards.

    This format is all about big hitting, sixes and wickets, and though some of the ageing MCL stars would’ve been grateful for the kind of batting favours afforded to the PSL players (who need it far less), it was at least less embarrassing than the kind seen in the All-Stars tournament last year – in which boundaries looked more in keeping with U13 cricket.

    A FUTURE BEYOND THE UAE

    While these two tournaments find their feet and work out the best path forward, there is certainly a high chance that their futures may well eventually lie outside of the UAE.

    For both, that may be a worthwhile exercise; the MCL should take the chance to tap into new markets and generate the crowds these legends deserve, while the PSL has the opportunity to inject new life into Pakistan cricket on home soil.

    From a selfish standpoint, it would of course be a shame for UAE fans and journalists if the two tournaments were to bid farewell to the Emirates, but it would admittedly serve the greater good.

    Their immediate futures definitely lie in the Middle East, but for how long is uncertain.

    Take note cricket enthusiasts in Dubai, it’s time to dull some of the blue of those empty seats, before it’s too late.

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