PSL has proved why we need more cricket
Full stadiums, electric atmosphere, fans blaring horns, Viv Richards jumping up in excitement, Sangakara playing exquisite drives, most people glued to their TV screens, may all seem a scene from a previous World Cup thriller being played at Qaddafi stadium. That it was Pakistan Super League, that it turned out to be the assembly of the best and the greatest, that it was played outside Pakistan, and that it had the least ranked teams displacing the giants, was what made PSL a breath of fresh air for cricket fans back home and in other countries.
In the gallery of stars the commentator’s box was also lit with great names like Tom Moody (Australia), Pat Symcox (South Africa), Alan Wilkins (England), Bazid Khan and Ramiz Raja (Pakistan). PSL has had its share of appreciation and criticism. Who better than these people who have the best knowledge of the game and who for three weeks saw every ball being hit and bowled to request for their views on this first edition of Pakistan Super League.
- Your take on the first edition of the PSL in comparison to other leagues?
Tom Moody: I believe the PSL had a remarkable first year considering the tournament was held in the UAE and it was in its inaugural year. The standard of play was at a consistently high level with a strong overseas involvement.
Pat Symcox: It was outstanding and will auger well for Pakistan cricket in the future. It was well organised and professionally run with a good feel from the players that their payments are secure. This is a critical component of the event.
Alan Wilkins: There is no disputing the fact that the inaugural PSL was an unqualified success with a high level of cricket skills demonstrated throughout the tournament. The PSL is comparable to any of the T20 tournaments around the world for the intensity and competitive environment it produced, and it goes without saying that if the event had been held in the major cities in Pakistan, we would have had crowds resembling those in Australia and India. Nevertheless, the response from Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE was impressive, both in Dubai and in Sharjah, and now that the first PSL has been staged, I have no doubt that the demand for tickets next year will be greater.
Ramiz Raja: PSL stood out as finest in fielding exhibition. Also we did not get any dead rubber games and quality of skills with bat and ball matched any other good league. It was a well-managed affair.
Bazid Khan: The fervour and excitement PSL created was second to none. The first year of the edition was indeed quite a show and the spectacle was better than most T20 leagues.
- Did you see any new talent?
Tom Moody: There is no doubt there is talent in Pakistan, the standouts for me were the following: Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Asghar, Usama Mir. It was also great to see Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir back in form.
Pat Symcox: A few took the opportunity to showcase their talent. I would not single out any one in particular though.
Alan Wilkins: Yes, this was a great platform for young Pakistani talent to rub shoulders with some of the world’s greatest players, and it was encouraging to see the performances of players such as Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Asghar, Usama Mir, Rumman Raees, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Ehsan Adil, Nauman Anwar, Iftikhar Ahmad, and Aamer Yamin. They will get better with every game they play, or simply by being part of the team’s squad. The cupboard looks well-stocked with talent for Pakistan.
Ramiz Raja: Sharjeel Khan reassured us that he has talent. M Nawaz and M Asghar are good finds with the ball. Both are temperamentally strong.
Bazid Khan: Mohammad Nawaz. Hopefully he will develop further.
- Any recommendations for the next year?
Tom Moody: I personally wouldn’t change a huge amount in the infant stages of this tournament, the current number of teams and timeframe works. Expanding too quickly will only challenge the dynamics of the tournament and stretch the talent both locally and internationally. The one key to the success of the league is quality, the quality of talent and the wickets are paramount to the growth of the PSL.
Pat Symcox: Increase the teams if possible but I believe that contractually it might not be possible. However, the status worked well and not much needs to be changed. The media hype around the event was excellent and with the platform now in place even more viewership will come on board next year.
Alan Wilkins: It was tough for the players because of the short duration of the matches, and also the number of double-headers. If matches are to be spread over more days, then the tournament is going to be a much longer affair. It all depends on the size of the window available but ideally, there would be more time for the players to recover. The pitches played on early in the tournament were not conducive for batsmen to hit the big sixes, and they certainly helped spin very early on. I would look to have pitches that lend themselves to bigger totals. The crowds like to see the big shots in Twenty20 cricket, but at least it gave the slower bowlers even playing field this time.
Ramiz Raja: Stay with same number of teams for two years. Let the format and teams grow on the fans. Need more gaps in between matches as there is risk of player injury.
Bazid Khan: Perhaps more spacing out is required. Double headers and games everyday lessen the pre-match excitement and also take away from the build up to a big match.
For me personally to sit amongst this team of cricket greats was an amazing journey of learning and discovery. The game had a different emotion and a different flavour. Everybody had a team favourite but even if their team lost, it was not depressing because Pakistan won in the end. There was a sense of pride, a sense of ownership, a sense of patriotism that stemmed from the ability to host an international event which is comparable to the best in the world. As Sir Vivian Richard said with fondness in his voice that PSL was like home and Quetta Gladiators were like family to him. He said he always loved to play against Pakistan and in Pakistan and thus the aim for the next year would be to bring some of PSL back home.