Daily Times

Legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram wants fans to fill up the stadium for the Pakistan Super League 2019, as action began at the beautiful Dubai International Cricket Stadium Stadium on Thursday night with a glittering opening ceremony, followed by a high-voltage match between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.

The theme “maidaan sajana hay” (adorn the stadium) has been at full swing for the last two weeks as the buildup for the PSL 4.

Wasim, one of the greatest left-arm pacemen to have played cricket, is with Karachi Kings as President after guiding Islamabad United to the title in the first edition in 2016. He was with Multan Sultans last year, helping a number of youngsters with his extraordinary guile and acumen. Wasim was famous as King of Sultan, as he bamboozled numerous batsmen around the world with his lethal swing.

Wasim delivered a number of lethal deliveries, but will always be remembered for his two magical ones that came in the all-important final of the 1992 World Cup. He grabbed 18 wickets and was declared “player of the tournament,” as he guided Pakistan to their only World Cup title at the historic and gigantic MCG. Wasim’s contribution in the PSL is also significant. He helped Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Sami and Shadab Khan shine at the HBL PSL when he was with Islamabad and then guided Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Abbas while at Multan. Now he has two exciting left-armers – Mohammad Amir and Usman Shinwari – at Karachi Kings who will definitely mature under his wings.

But apart from his coaching and passing tips, Wasim also realises his duty to promote the PSL which is country’s own brand and is getting better and better with every year. He urges the fans in UAE — mostly Pakistani expats — to fill the stadiums. “This league is ours, yours and of every Pakistani,” Wasim said. “Pakistan have made this league for Pakistani fans. All six teams are Pakistani owners.

“Whether come to the Dubai stadium or Sharjah or Abu Dhabi or for the matches in Pakistan. Whether they are watching it on television, just enjoy. This is our brand and we have to make it successful,” said the legend. Wasim praised the efforts behind the staging of the league. “It takes enormous effort to organize such a mega event, so from a small worker to the PCB chairman to those who are in the government to the PM Imran Khan, everyone deserves a big hand but at the end of the day fans have to make this league popular. “I am sure people will come in large numbers in matches in Pakistan. Hopefully a day will come soon when our league will be completely held in Pakistan.”

Published in Daily Times, February 16^th 2019.