PSL: Big Crowd, big money spent but very low quality inauguration ceremony

• Islamabad United beat Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets

• Ehsan Mani fulfilling his youth days desires using PSL funds, analysts

• With exception of Fawad Khan the remaining performance was below average

UAE / ISLAMABAD (Friday, 15 Feb 2019) – PSL was inaugurated yesterday with a massive budget but with very poor quality performances with the exception of Fawad Khan. The analysts declared the event as a private bedroom event of Ehsan Mani at the cost of PSL as the performers were not representing the best of Pakistan but those being selected on sifarish with approval of Mani.

In the opening match of the fourth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) in UAE, Islamabad United beat Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets.

Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field first, Fakhar Zaman and Sohail Akhtar opened the innings for Lahore Qalandars.

Lahore Qalandars scored 171 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Islamabad United chased down the target in the last over with 5 wickets remaining.

At a stage when Talat was dismissed it seemed as if Islamabad United’s chances were over but Asif and Faheem Ashraf turned the match around. Asif in particular played strong sixes to break the Qalandars hearts.

In the end, the defending champions chased down the target with five wickets and four balls to spare.

Faheem Ashraf of Islamabad United who took two wickets and scored 23 runs was declared man of the match.

Two matches are scheduled to be played today. In the first match Karachi Kings will take on Multan Sultans at 4:30 pm (PST), while in the second match, Peshawar Zalmi will face Quetta Gladiators at 9:00 pm.

The PSL management must appreciate the world class facilities and security provided by the govt. of UAE and UAE’s cricketing authorities and use the PSL funds professionally and in a competitive way than to facilitate friends in the name of performers back from Pakistan and other countries.