Islamabad win PSL final with Karachi back on int'l cricket map
- By Baseer Ahmed -
- Mar 25, 2018
KARACHI: Luke Ronchi and Asif Ali pumped quick runs into the scorecard to guide Islamabad United to telling victory against Peshawar Zalmi in the high-voltage grand finale of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 3 in Karachi on Sunday.
In pursuit for 149 runs target, Ronchi’s blistering fifty set the momentum, but immediately after his wicket was thrown a domino-effect of falling of wickets was witnessed on one side, as only Sahibzada Farhan had his wicket intact for quite a longer run, until Kamran Akmal’s costly miss off Asif Ali’s strike on 14.4 overs.
From here unbeaten Asif (26 from 6) launched a crazy onslaught to make it one-sided match with three back-to-back maximums off Hasan Ali. United successfully chased the score with 3.1 overs to spare.
“Hard hitting is my natural game. The coaching staff encouraged me to play that way. Pressure was of course there, but I have won a number of matches for Faisalabad playing this way. Playing under pressure gives me a lot of enjoyment. My friends say that you are made for big games,” said Asif Ali.
Talking to Ramiz Raja, Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy said: “I am looking forward to playing more cricket in Pakistan.”
The champions, the trophy, the celebrations!#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/sPkkhUR1W1
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
The tournament’s top run-getter, Ronchi bagged Man of the Match Award as well as PSL 2018’s Player of the Tournament Award.
Ronchi started off the proceedings with two towering sixes in the first over of the inning bowled by Hasan Ali followed by 15 runs milked in the fourth over of the inning bowled by Liam Dawson.
He raised his half-century on just 25 deliveries and got out after scoring 52 runs off 26 balls that included 5 sixes and four boundaries. He emerged as the highest run-scorer with 435 runs. The former Kiwi batsman contributed 96 runs with Sahibzada Farhan in just 53 balls.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was the chief guest on the occasion, was present in the stadium and enjoyed the revival of international cricket in Karachi after nine years.
Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Director General Inter Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor were also among the prominent dignitaries witnessing the match.
Glimpses of today’s closing ceremony held earlier in the evening:
Waqai Koi Nahi Hay In Jaisa!!!!@darensammy88 @RealHa55an Andre Fletcher#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/phQVKBZhB9
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
The iconic band @stringsonline on stage! The closing ceremony here at NSK is LIT 🔥#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/vW1yjcjqaV
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Karachi Main Aaya Final…
Sab Mil Ke Josh Dikhain Gey…
Yeh Sheher Barhy Dil Walon Ka…
Sab Apas Main Jurh Jaing Gey!!!@ShehzadRoy on stage singing #DeDhanaDhan#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/Y30Ih4vIkV— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Farhan Saeed on stage asking “Kitna Hai Dum”#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/N4bJsHJ9BO
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
.@AimaBaig3 on stage!
Bhanwain Sir Di Baazi Lag Jaaway#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/Bdc7oVc5sV— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Chairman PCB and PSL, @najamsethi giving his thanks giving speech at the closing ceremony of the #HBLPSL 2018#DilSeKaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/4pwXx9h2PI
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
LIVE UPDATES
Islamabad United 154/7 (Overs 16.5)
OVER 17: Wahab Riaz (W-0-0-0-6)
Asif Ali: 26 (6)
Faheem Ashraf: 6
Hussain Talat: 7 (11)
Faheem Ashraf scores the match-winning six for Islamabad United!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/u7GanoAfmg— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 16.1 Wahab Riaz to Hussain Talat
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/DqiYccJ5Ub— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 16: Hasan Ali (1-6-6-6-1-1)
Hussain Talat: 7
Asif Ali: 26
SIX! 15.2 Hasan Ali to Asif Ali
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/BAUFvsxqGM— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 15.3 Hasan Ali to Asif Ali
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/Gb0XVcfYzh— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Asif Ali smashes three 6s off Hasan Ali and United are almost there.
Game, set, match and #HBLPSL title winning cameo!#DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvPZ https://t.co/wqHNYr6pz6— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 15.4 Hasan Ali to Asif Ali
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/OpAAPMIa8X— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 15: Umaid Asif (2-0-1-6-1-)
Hussain Talat: 5
Asif Ali: 7
OVER 14: Hasan Ali (W-0-0-0-1-W)
Hussain Talat: 1
Shadab Khan: 1 (2)
Samit Patel: 10 (13)
OUT! 13.6 Hasan Ali to Shadab Khan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/1xqh3M1dFJ— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 13.1 Hasan Ali to Samit Patel
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/qkwOvrjTRS— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 13: Chris Jordan (1-0-0-0-1-0-1)
Samit Patel: 10
Shadab Khan: 1
OVER 12: Wahab Riaz (1-4-0-0-1-W)
Samit Patel: 9
Sahibzada Farhan: 44 (33)
It’s a top edge and Sahibzada Farhan departs after scoring a gutsy 33 ball 44.
IU 112 for 4 in 12 overs#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanlagaDe #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/AsDntKGJaT— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 11.6 Wahab Riaz to Sahibzada Farhan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/UpJBash4NN— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
United 112 for 4, need 37 off 48 balls with 6 wickets in hand. Do we have one final twist in the incredible #HBLPSL 2018 tale? #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/St6ZKghZzN
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 11: Chris Jordan (1-1-W-0-0-4-)
Sahibzada Farhan: 43
Samit Patel: 4
JP Duminy: 2 (4)
OUT! 10.3 Chris Jordan to JP Duminy
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/WlZYQtkNTp— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Three quick wickets and Zalmi roar back in the game! A #YellowStorm brewing in Karachi? #DilSeJaanLagaDe#HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 10: Umaid Asif (W-0-1-0-2-0)
Sahibzada Farhan: 42
JP Duminy: 1
Chadwick Walton: 0 (2)
OUT! 9.1 Umaid Asif to Chadwick Walton
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/bW2uT9lj20— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 9: Chris Jordan (0-6-1-1-4-1-W)
Sahibzada Farhan: 40
Chadwick Walton: 0
Luke Ronchi: 52 (26)
OUT! 8.5 Chris Jordan to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/drwJwxIQpy— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 8.2 Chris Jordan to Sahibzada Farhan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/408XSAuB8g— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Scintillating opening partnership between @ronchi04 and Sahibzada Farhan has made the chase easy for @IsbUnited
Ronchi dazzles with another stroke filled 50!
IU 95/0#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/Hux2vLMbpT— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
50 comes up for Luke Ronchi!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/g4JUpRIIqf— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 8: Umaid Asif (4-1-1-2-1-0)
Luke Ronchi: 48
Sahibzada Farhan: 33
OVER 7: Wahab Riaz (0-1-4-2-1-0)
Luke Ronchi: 47
Sahibzada Farhan: 25
OVER 6: Umaid Asif (0-1-2-0-0-0)
Luke Ronchi: 46
Sahibzada Farhan: 18
OVER 5: Wahab Riaz (4-0-0-0-0-0)
Luke Ronchi: 45
Sahibzada Farhan: 16
OVER 4: Liam Dawson (4-1-4-6-0-0)
Luke Ronchi: 45
Sahibzada Farhan: 8
SIX! 3.4 Liam Dawson to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/aCCrSZhBZs— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 3: Hasan Ali (1-1-1-4-0-0-6-4)
Luke Ronchi: 35
Sahibzada Farhan: 3
SIX! 2.5 Hasan Ali to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/RWaBmHtFfG— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 2: Sameen Gul (0-0-1-6-1-1)
Luke Ronchi: 21
Sahibzada Farhan: 2
Dubai, Sharjah and now Karachi, the @ronchi04 show continues to enthrall! @PeshawarZalmi in desperate need of his wicket.
IU 40/0 after 3 overs— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 1.4 Sameen Gul to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/2wNjsXxD6R— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 1: Hasan Ali (0-0-0-6-6-2)
Luke Ronchi: 14
Sahibzada Farhan: 0
SIX! 0.5 Hasan Ali to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/jyrC9ADgLR— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 0.4 Hasan Ali to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/UERxrfuJCZ— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Peshawar Zalmi 148/9 (Overs 20)
United have the edge at half way stage? Guess what @PeshawarZalmi defended in the 2017 #HBLPSL final 😎#DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/UI2rAIJPeH
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 20: Wahab Riaz (1-0-4-4-0-2)
Wahab Riaz: 28
Sameen Gul: 2
Peshawar Zalmi have scored 148. Will Islamabad United chase it down?
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/g5VEFL7nJE— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 19: Mohammad Sami (0-0-0-1-1-6-4)
Wahab Riaz: 18
Sameen Gul: 1
OVER 18: Faheem Ashraf (2-0-0-1-W-4)
Wahab Riaz: 8
Sameen Gul: 0
Hasan Ali: 6 (5)
OUT! 17.5 Faheem Ashraf to Hasan Ali
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/2GuZkT0Rkr— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 17: Mohammad Sami (0-4-1-W-0-1)
Hasan Ali: 6
Wahab Riaz: 1
Liam Dawson: 33 (30)
OUT! 16.4 Mohammad Sami to Liam Dawson
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/hRMK73yUxW— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 16: Shadab Khan (1-0-0-W-W-1)
Liam Dawson: 33
Hasan Ali: 1
Umaid Asif: 0 (1)
Darren Sammy: 6 (6)
The United magician has Zalmi in a spin! Shadab accounts for Umaid and Sammy in the same over leaving PZ stuttering at 111 for 7 after 15 overs.#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/yKiAVbv4uP
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 15.5 Shadab Khan to Umaid Asif
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/5P2kmxUOeN— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
On a HAT TRICK!#HBLPSL #IUvPZ #DilSeJaanLagaDe
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 15.4 Shadab Khan to Darren Sammy
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/xQFXM2FeUr— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 15: Hussain Talat (W-1-4-1-1-1-1)
Liam Dawson: 32
Darren Sammy: 6
Saad Nasim: 2 (4)
United look in control as PZ are 101 for 5 after 14 overs. Crucial time of the innings, Zalmi must be aiming to reach at least the 160 mark#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvPZ
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 14.1 Hussain Talat to Saad Nasim
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/H9Q8C3HxZp— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 14: Amad Butt (2-0-4-1-0-1)
Liam Dawson: 30
Saad Nasim: 2
Thank you Karachi!
You are a wonderful crowd and deserved hosts of the #HBLPSL final. 😍#DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/Q37VmmE0Dq— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 13: Hussain Talat (1-6-W-1-1-1)
Liam Dawson: 23
Saad Nasim: 1
Chris Jordan: 36 (26)
OUT! 12.3 Hussain Talat to Chris Jordan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/NP8AYCtINw— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
SIX! 12.2 Hussain Talat to Chris Jordan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/8Ce3Y5dMhH— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 12: Faheem Ashraf (0-1-1-1-1-1)
Chris Jordan: 30
Liam Dawson: 21
OVER 11: Amad Butt (1-1-0-1-1-1)
Chris Jordan: 28
Liam Dawson: 18
OVER 10: Shadab Khan (1-6-1-0-2-1)
Chris Jordan: 26
Liam Dawson: 15
SIX! 9.2 Shadab Khan to Chris Jordan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/CZG0aITyXm— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 9: Faheem Ashraf (1-0-0-1-6-1)
Chris Jordan: 19
Liam Dawson: 11
SIX! 8.5 Faheem Ashraf to Liam Dawson
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ayID5AB4Jd— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 8: Shadab Khan (2-1-1-6-0-0)
Chris Jordan: 18
Liam Dawson: 3
SIX! 7.4 Shadab Khan to Chris Jordan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/gmu8Fl2KaS— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 7: Samit Patel (0-1-1-1-1-1)
Chris Jordan: 9
Liam Dawson: 2
OVER 6: Shadab Khan (0-1-0-0-1-W)
Chris Jordan: 6
Andre Fletcher: 21 (15)
OUT! 5.6 Shadab Khan to Andre Fletcher
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/WokwY9xyIE— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 5: Samit Patel (W-4-0-1-4-1)
Andre Fletcher: 20
Chris Jordan: 5
Mohammad Hafeez: 8 (6)
Hafeez is the next one to go as @IsbUnited make a roaring start to the #HBLPSL Final in Karachi#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/VpTrPUzo80
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 4.1 Samit Patel to Mohammad Hafeez
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/WsuAR4ilYw— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 4: Mohammad Sami (1-0-4-1-6-1)
Andre Fletcher: 15
Mohammad Hafeez: 7
SIX! 3.5 Mohammad Sami to Mohammad Hafeez
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/TptTE8VPwk— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
What an incredible start for United, the #HBLPSL Green Cap owner sent back by Samit Patel for 1. #SherKiDhaar at NSK#DilSeJaanLagaDe
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 3: Samit Patel (4-4-1-W-0-1)
Andre Fletcher: 1
Mohammad Hafeez: 10
Kamran Akmal: 1 (9)
OUT! 2.4 Samit Patel to Kamran Akmal
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/gZqlEqkn1E— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OVER 2: Mohammad Sami (0-0-0-0-1-1)
Kamran Akmal: 1
Andre Fletcher: 1
OVER 1: Samit Patel (0-0-1-0-0-0-)
Kamran Akmal: 1
Andre Fletcher: 0
Earlier in the evening, a star-studded entertaining concluding ceremony of the PSL 3 was held here at National Stadium Karachi.
Scores of showbiz and cricket celebrities and other dignitaries attended the mega event. Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United teams were also witnessing the colorful occasion from the dressing room.
Aima Baig sang ‘Sakon Yar Manawna Hey’. Farhan Saeed’s rendition also made people shake a leg. Strings band and Shehzad Roy’s performances extremely amused the spectators. Andre Fletcher, Darren Sammy, Kamran Akmal and Hassan Ali grooved on Strings’ ‘Hai Koi Hum Jaisa’.
Ali Zafar sang PSL 3 title song “Seeti Bajay Gi”.
Aima Baig performance in PSL closing ceremony
Watch Full Video:https://t.co/jtc7B0jL8k#PSLFinalinKarachi #NationalStadium pic.twitter.com/0cs7yHsKxf
— ARY Videos (@ARYVideos) March 25, 2018
Sammy, Fletcher and @RealHa55an joins the party!! #PSLFinalInKarachi pic.twitter.com/iR4CgTDfxQ
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) March 25, 2018
#PSLFinalinKarachi The ZALMIs have arrived! pic.twitter.com/2VoYzPWXtW
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) March 25, 2018
United skipper JP Duminy climbed the stage and won the hearts of the crowd with “Assalam-o-Alaikum” in majestic voice. He was all praise for the return of the cricket to Pakistan and crowd in Karachi.
Zalmi captain Sammy asked Karachiites “kesay ho” (how are you). He thanked all the participants for their love.
“Hopefully, the residents of Karachi will get to see some good cricket today.”
He also chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.
دنیا بھر سے کرکٹ اسٹارز اور کمنٹیڑز کراچی آگئے#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/jCfto0vUkt
— ARY Videos (@ARYVideos) March 25, 2018
Tight security arrangements were in place as a huge crowd of spectators thronged the stadium to experience the first major cricketing event in Karachi in the last nine years.
The terrorists who put Pakistan cricket in a deadlock have been defeated as hundreds of fans, fighting the heat and near-suffocating security blanket had reached the stadium.
It was like a big festival for the nearly 20-million people of the metropolis. The city was buzzing with hoardings welcoming the international as well as local players.
Addressing the ceremony, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi gave credit to law enforcement agencies including Rangers, police and Army for providing impressive security for the event.
He said Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah contributed with his immense services for the event to make it possible.
“Every organ of the state has worked day and night to bring the game back. There was a scare earlier, but we’re over it now. Next year, we’re hoping half of the PSL matches will be played in Pakistan,” he said.
Sethi asked people to throng to stadiums in other upcoming international events in the megapolis as well.
Dazzling with colours the city of lights welcomes international cricket in Karachi. The initiative of Sindh Govt to transform the metropolis & host #PSLFinalinKarachi is commendable. 👏 pic.twitter.com/vX4u1wfQKC
— Zawar Mohsin Mirza (@MirzaZawar) March 25, 2018
People’s reactions on social media:
And one more for you #PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/YjAsDmnJeX
— Sohail Tariq (@liahosqirat) March 25, 2018
Most respectful person. JP Duminy #PSLFinalinKarachi #IUvsPZ pic.twitter.com/3qG81QSY10
— Adeel Tayyab (@adeeltayyab88) March 25, 2018
Oka India Are you watching ?#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/du2cwM3DjX
— Saaniii🏏 (@Sania_Asad1) March 25, 2018
I will be supporting #PeshwarZalmi tonight what about you guys 😊..All The Best @KamiAkmal23 my pick of the players #PSLFinalinKarachi
— Fahad Mustafa (@fahadmustafa26) March 25, 2018
This performance literally gives Goose Bumps!#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/Dfm8MpZrsS
— Maan Rehman (@maanrehman) March 25, 2018
For those who were showing vacant spaces of UAE grounds,this is karachi for you.#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/2fgIXkHl1k
— Engr.Hafiz Mubashir (@EngrHafizMubas2) March 25, 2018
How can you hate on Karachi. These are the same people whose team got knocked out so bad and here they are. Full of energy, full of life!! #PSLFinalinKarachi
— ms keisha (@meemelif) March 25, 2018
Hero of PSL❤️❤️#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/v9307eM84x
— Fariha (@fariha_hira) March 25, 2018
Yes, the true happiness is #PSLFinalinKarachi is trending at number 3 in worldwide 😍😍😍#PakistanZindabad 💚🇵🇰💚 pic.twitter.com/gjSm90HryA
— Sagar Samy (@sagarsamy_) March 25, 2018
Have fun #Karachi, great to see you smiling again ✊#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/8tnaqwKii3
— Pakistan Defence (@defencedotpk) March 25, 2018
There will be no losers today, except for the terrorists and target killers of course. Hoping they get a heart attack today! #PSLFinalinKarachi
— Pakistan Defence (@defencedotpk) March 25, 2018
This is Pakistan🇵🇰🇵🇰
We won today✌✌
Thankyou Pak Army❤️❤️
Pakistan Zindabad💚💚#PSLFinalinKarachi pic.twitter.com/2Ny4hDDQIt— Fariha (@fariha_hira) March 25, 2018
#Sindh‘s P & D minister @SaeedGhani1 and his son standing in queue to get inside #NationalStadium. pic.twitter.com/SVz82ndkQd
— Zameer Ahmed Malik (@ZameerAMalik) March 25, 2018
im telling y’all pakistani people are a different type of breed #PSLFinalinKarachi #NationalStadium pic.twitter.com/hJRAkCPz1c
— send fries (@ArayAaliyaan) March 25, 2018