KARACHI: The glittering opening ceremony of fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has begun at National Stadium Karachi.
As many as 350 artists will perform in the star-studded opening ceremony. The metropolitan city has been set alight as artists from different music genres Sufi, pop, rock, bhangra and folk will come together to perform at what will be the biggest opening ceremony in the history of the HBL PSL.
Thousands of fans in the stadium are at the edge of their seats and millions around the globe glued to their television sets as world renowned artists are set to perform in the ceremony.
The artists includes Abrar-ul-Haq, Aima Baig, Abu Mohammad, Fareed Ayaz, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sajjad Ali, Sanam Marvi and rock band Soch.
Ali Azmat, Arif Lohar, Haroon and Asim Azhar will perform HBL PSL 2020’s anthem ‘Tayyar Hain’.
Also Read: A look back into the history of the PSL
A galaxy of world-class T20 stars will converge to grip the entire country in cricket zeal for a whole month from now onward.
First match of the event will be played between Islamabad United and the defending champions Quetta Gladiators on Thursday (today). A large number of sports personalities, artists, politicians and cricket fans are attending the mega cricket event.
The provincial government has made all the arrangements for the event and security measures have been put in place with deployment of rangers and police personnel at all the key points and surrounding areas of the venue.
It is for the first time that all the matches of PSL are being played in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan while final of the event will be held at Lahore.
DIG Operations Maqsood Ahmed Memon said 10,000 security personnel were posted for security of the event. Four layers of security had been established around the stadium, he said.
“A team of 600 commandos has been prepared for the PSL matches in Karachi, while 150 commandos of SSU Swat will perform special duty in three shifts, 50 in each,” he said adding that additional IG Karachi had taken special measures for the mega event.
The PSL 2020 trophy was unveiled at the National Stadium in Karachi on Feb 19, in what was the first-ever trophy unveiling ceremony for the tournament on Pakistani soil.
Squash icon Jahangir Khan brought the glittering trophy to the stadium before unveiling it alongside Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani and other officials.
Captains of the PSL franchises and their owners were also present on the occasion.
In a statement, Jahangir Khan had said it was truly a remarkable moment to play a role in the unveiling of the PSL trophy.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan had said that he was thankful to Jahangir Khan for becoming a part of the ceremony and providing the PCB an opportunity to honour a legend like him.
The trophy was unveiled by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani in the presence of six franchise owners and captains.
