PSL final, when cricket won

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in applauding the rightful champions of Pakistan Super League Season 3: Islamabad United.

Let’s admit that many didn’t fancy their chances of winning the league this year. Last season, they faced a major setback when their players were found in spot fixing. Not many teams could make a comeback from that, but hats off to the winning combination of Dean Jones and Misbah ul Haq, who steered them out of that crisis. Having a composed and trusting owner like Ali Naqvi also helped their cause and this year they were simply the team to beat. While most of the other teams relied on their star players (mostly foreigners), United’s local talent rose to the occasion. It won’t come as a big surprise if we see Hussain Talat and Asif Ali becoming part of the national T20 setup soon. United played with a proper game plan and strategy, worked on their opponent’s weaknesses and played to their own strengths. They were the most consistent team in the league and even with their captain missing out the second half of the championship, it was a fitting end that Pakistan’s most successful captain lifted the trophy on the same day as when the country won its only World Cup 26 years ago.

Despite setting a below par target in the final, Peshawar Zalmi was in the game until Kamran Akmal reminded us all why he was dropped from the national setup in the first place. He ran after a catch which was never his and then dropped it in a spectacular fashion. It was a very disappointing end for him as he was instrumental in Zalmi’s run to the final. He was in sublime batting form but this over dependency came back to haunt them as he was out early in the final. Nevertheless, it was a great performance by probably the most famous and loved franchise, and Darren Sammy further cemented his place as one of the greatest friends of Pakistan cricket.

Just like last year, the real winner was the Pakistani nation. This year, Karachi opened her arms to foreign players for the first time in almost a decade. The atmosphere was electrifying and 35,000 people singing the national anthem gave everyone goosebumps. This is a city which has been through hell, its people have seen all kind of evil happening in their city, but as always cricket brought them together. They were dancing, singing and cheering every ball, every shot.

There were complaints about road blockages and other problems in Lahore and Karachi during the matches but honestly keeping in mind the current law and order situation in the country, this is the only way we will be able to organise matches. The security lapse of 2009 still haunts us. Things can be improved and planned in a better manner but gone are the days when only sports complex around Gadaffi Stadium was closed down. It is a price that we have to pay now if we want to bring cricket back into the country.

PCB has announced plans to bring second half of PSL to Pakistan next year with Multan, Rawalpindi and Hyderabad being touted as additional venues. It is yet to be seen if they will be able to do that or not, but the West Indian tour is a big step in this regard. Pakistan has offered to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2021 and who knows we might pull that off.

But for now, thank you everyone who helped making this event a success.

Truly, cricket was the biggest winner yesterday.