Shahid Afridi
PESHAWAR: The 9th edition of the Pakistan Super League T20 Cricket matches comes to an end with a lot of sweet memories because of jam-packed fences and a lot of cheering responses from the crazy-turned twin-cities and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa crowd which turned up in large numbers for every match.
After the first two matches were hit by heavy down-pour, the rest of the matches were organized in a superficial way for which all out efforts had been utilized for a smooth conduct. Above all the like every year, Peshawar Zalmi management arranged a special bus service with food and drink facilities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is considered their home ground city, the city of flowers Peshawar.
Apart from providing a class facilities to the cricketing fans by Peshawar Zalmi, the Zalmi management also set up a big screen in the vicinity of Hayatabad Cricket Stadium wherein hundreds and thousands of spectators enjoyed watching the live match on the big screen facilities. Haa Haa Zalmi Zindabad, were the words on every one mouth.
After ending of matches in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the Test flight of Karachities have been started with the rest of the matches including the final of the grand event, which truly showcasing the softer images of the country.
Everyone was saying the truth that now HBL-PSL-9th edition is not a cricketing event, rather it has become a known factor to the country’s image, which once faced a long absence of not a single team ready to come and play because of the attack over the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
Nevertheless, the HBL-PSL is a known factor of image building wherein more prominent players are now part of the six franchise teams competing well against each other with every match is worth watching, compelling the fans to come up on their toes, especially in the last moment of the matches.
The players were delivering their hundreds percent because of facing the home crowd and that is why some good performances registered in the matches while there was Neil-biting finishing of the contests.
The extraordinary interest of spectators in Pindi Ground and especially the arrival of Peshawar Zalmi fans from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, turning the matches into a superficies contest with great responses from the sitting spectators.
A large number of fans used to go to Pindi Cricket Stadium to watch cricket matches and were very excited to see their favorite players in action, while at the same time, fans also demanded the cricket government to hold matches in Peshawar.
Every time, there was a clear demand in the words and shouting that when they would be able to see cricketing players in Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, a project, which has to be ready every in 2020 but till no date, 95 percent work completed and the rest of 5 percent should need to be completed for the fulfilment of the wishes of the Peshawarites to see their players at their home ground in action rather coming to twin-cities in a small number through Peshawar Zalmi Bus-Services.
“We are watching with great interest and if we will see international players live in action in Peshawar again, it will be even better and more joyful, ” the fans sitting in the buses said while shouting and criticizing the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a delay in completion of work.
The interest and acceptance of foreign players in HBL-PSL is increasing day by day. It should be done because not only does HBL-PSL provide new talent, but it is a great way to show the positive face of Pakistan to the world in terms of the domestic economy.
