LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan had a dismal home international cricket season, but over the last five weeks stadiums in four major cities were packed with thousands of spectators to witness a quality brand of modern-day Twenty20 cricket.
Over 25,000 spectators — mostly supporting the home team Lahore Qalandars — saw their team edge out Multan Sultans by just one run in an epic final at Gaddafi Stadium and became the first Pakistan Super League franchise to successfully defend the title in eight editions of the tournament.
The vociferous crowd got behind Pakistan premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Lahore which beat Multan Sultans, led by one of world’s top T20 wicketkeeper-batters, Mohammad Rizwan in a last ball finish.
“We produced pitches that supported batting and bowling and provided perfect setting for evenly contested matches,” Sethi said. “Never before we saw as many as seven centuries being scored in one edition of PSL.”
PSL might still be far behind the cash-rich IPL, but it has made several stars not only for Pakistan but for other countries like Harry Brook of England, Tim David of Australia and revived the international career of South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw.
“PSL has been a great asset globally, but obviously also for Pakistan,” Sethi said.