PSL Karachi
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PSL in Karachi: A fan’s perspective

Mohammed Saqib·
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
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With the PSL bringing joy back to Karachi and its cricketing faithful, we delve deeper into the mind of someone in the crowd…

Cricket returned to Pakistan earlier this month, with Karachi’s National Stadium hosting eight matches during the last leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). As someone who loves the game, one of my earliest childhood memories is me sitting on a chair in front of the television screen and trying to make sense of this seemingly absurd sport (shortly after the World Cup in 2003). Since then, I’ve barely missed any matches involving Pakistan. However, being part of a fully-packed stadium, sipping tea, and supporting my team had been a distant dream until this year’s PSL.

In typically unfortunate fashion, my university decided to schedule exams right in the middle of this momentous week of cricket. Nonetheless, I managed to wriggle through and watch two of the eight PSL matches held in Karachi. More specifically, Quetta Gladiators vs. Karachi Kings in the group stage and Quetta Gladiators vs. Peshawar Zalmi in the final. As soon as I got my hands on the tickets for the first game, I was overjoyed. It was as if the unrequited love of my life had finally begun to reciprocate those feelings or given me subtle hints of that nature.

As I entered the stadium for my first-ever live match, I was surrounded by a sea of people wearing the royal blue of Karachi Kings. It was indescribable. The thrill of seeing all those supporters madly in love with the same game as me was an experience on its own. Young and old; families and friends; sitting together and enjoying the match as if they were on the field themselves.

The game panned out brilliantly, with a thrilling last-ball finish providing the maximum amount of entertainment fans could hope for. Usman Shinwari’s last over sealed an unlikely victory for Karachi in the PSL, and the stadium’s euphoria was palpable. There was hugging, singing, and dancing scattered through the night with the beats of the dhol. That was the image of an unapologetic city celebrating a rare moment of glory.

The security around the venue was extremely tight – so much so that the green-and-white wig I was wearing had to be taken off multiple times to see if I was hiding anything under it. And as long as I made it inside to witness the match, I didn’t mind. That being said, the number of checks and the cost of using government paraphernalia for these purposes will be a major concern for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if the entire PSL is to be held in Pakistan next year (as announced by the Prime Minister).

Another observation I made was that, except for Peshawar Zalmi, who made a conscious effort to promote club loyalty by targeting the Pashtun demographic, teams failed to cultivate a sense of allegiance among their supporters. Most of my friends never really got behind Karachi Kings because they felt no connection to what was unfolding on the pitch.

Moreover, Karachi Kings didn’t have a single player hailing from the city in their staring XI. This should also raise some questions within the PCB if the PSL is to continue its upward progression. If fans don’t build a strong bond with their team, they won’t be filling up stadiums when a more extensive list of fixtures presents itself.

Critique aside, now is the time to celebrate the PSL’s overwhelming success. The fact that the stadium was sold-out (or over-sold) for every game is testament to the love that Pakistani people have for the game. Furthermore, there were no mishaps during the week despite heightened security threats – adding weight to the argument that Pakistan is ready to host international cricket once again.