PSL: for the love of cricket

Because it’s not just a game; it’s cricket

“None of the aforementioned odds, however, were able to diminish the passion for cricket from our midst, and the display of faith in this craze, followed by consistency of the PCB to participate in cricket series and tournaments held at venues other than Pakistan were imperative for the restoration of the game with all its glory.”

Well after Islam and Hinduism, the Indian sub-continent remains host to the third largest religion; the game we call cricket. For many, cricket in this part of the world is not just a game; it is treated, and followed as a religion, remains a passionate food for the hungry souls seeking entertainment, and triggers the craziest fan following one can possibly imagine. The larger than life game is not played by merely eleven (11) players on the field, but by the millions watching along.

Cricket, in particular for the people of Pakistan, is an emotion that simply cannot be undone. PSL is just a reminder to the World of the zealous passion Pakistan and its people have for cricket.

The second Pakistan Super League aka PSL reached its much anticipated climax on Sunday (5 March 2017) with Peshawar Zalmi rising to the occasion, and ending up with being crowned as the PSL champion. Not to leave the other teams behind who played their part in making the event an overall success, not just in terms of the game, but the restoration of credibility of Pakistan to host international cricket once again. The efforts made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to organise an event of this nature are commendable. The private corporations and entities too remained active in sponsoring, and contributing positively to the game. The government’s support, at the end, in making this event an actionable possibility has already been lauded all around, and across the board.

The menace of terrorism, where, had its adverse impact on the political, strategic, economical, and security outlook of Pakistan, also left its acerbic imprints on the game of cricket, through an assault on the Sri Lankan team while playing in Lahore, which barely survived the horrific attack. In wake of the latter, Pakistan however, was deprived from hosting international cricket, which remains a bitter reality for the cricket loving nation till date.

With the resilience of PCB, and consistent support from the government, PSL and events likewise are much likely to bring back the once lost international cricket back to our home grounds returning the game to its lost glory.

Re-living the craze!

The departure of international cricket from the local arena since 2009 was a setback to the game, and its diehard fans in particular. This absence hampered the nurturing of local talent pipeline depriving the national team of on boarding the best available. None of the aforementioned odds, however, were able to diminish the passion for cricket from our midst, and the display of faith in this craze, followed by consistency of the PCB to participate in cricket series and tournaments held at venues other than Pakistan were imperative for the restoration of the game with all its glory.

PSL, both version I and II, with their successful conclusion, has proved to be a stepping stone in providing an opportunity to the home based cricket fans to re-live their craze for the game, and at the same time provide the much required confidence to the international players, and bodies to play in Pakistan.

A multinational mix…

One core reason why PSL has been able to pull off the job for PCB and Pakistani cricket by restoring the once lost confidence in Pakistan is that it not just provides an opportunity to the local street talent to showcase their capability via this grand platform, but also invites and incorporates international players to participate in the event. The international players opting to play for PSL get aligned with the street boys in a team of their sharing, and this multinational mix results in a learning experience for both.

The key international players taking part in the event included Daren Sammy (WI, captain of the two time World T20 winning West Indian side), Kevin Peterson (Eng), Pollard (WI), Shane Watson (AUS), Kumar Sangakara (SRI), and many more renowned names from the cricketing world.

“One core reason why PSL has been able to pull off the job for PCB and Pakistani cricket by restoring the once lost confidence in Pakistan is that it not just provides an opportunity to the local street talent to showcase their capability via this grand platform, but also invites and incorporates international players to participate in the event.”

The format is an encouragement for the youth that eats, breathes, and lives the cricketing dream to come up, and exhibit their talents to excel further in their passion. The latter previously was deprived of a platform having the potential to encourage domestic players, since the absence of international cricket also made its impact on the domestic structure.

With PSL, the lurking talent now has a platform to perform, and simultaneously an opportunity to learn from senior counterparts; local as well as international, ultimately contributing to the national cricket team, and the cricket infrastructure in Pakistan at large.

The Phateechar controversy

According to Newton’s third law of motion, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It implies that everything that tries to make its way up will be pulled down with equal force.

In light of the stated law, positivity in Pakistan has also had an opposing force to bear; we call it the politics of negativity. Finally, when things seem to be moving in the right direction, the disciples of hate and negativity emerge from the dead, and try to install barriers to the way of the good. There is, now, a stronger than ever impression that such forces are a mere representation of the ‘say no to Pakistan’ agenda.

This impression was further strengthened when the government’s and the PCB’s decision to hold the PSL final in the very heart of Pakistan, i.e. the city of Lahore received opposition from certain political entities terming it as a failed attempt, and claiming that no one from the international arena would choose to play in Pakistan. The funny thing is, such claims were made even before the final had taken place. As opposed to the claims, when not all, but none the less international players agreed to play for PSL final in Pakistan, they were ironically termed as Phateechar, instead of being acknowledged, and thanked.

It was, however, encouraging to see the nation finally rejecting the politics of hate and negativity, by supporting the government and the PCB in their endeavour to promote Pakistan as a worthy playing field for the game, and making the PSL a success to cherish.

Let the passion roar again, and the love for cricket, win.