You can argue whether Islamabad United were worthy winners of the competition based on their overall performance, the format of Pakistan Super League (PSL) or your personal affinities but there is no denying that (PSL) has been undeniably a resounding success. All the ‘cricket analysts’ claiming PSL was a failure before it even started must be eating a lot of humble pie right now.
It also proved that claims by the older players that there was not enough younger talent coming through were false. About time some of them consider retirement!
The best in my opinion being Mohammad Nawaz.
Mohammad Nawaz is going to end up playing a lot of matches for Pakistan. #NextSuperstar #Psl #Pslt20
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 7, 2016
Finally we have a Nawaz that everybody loves :D :P#MuhammadNawaz#PindiBoy
— Innocent Devil (@Abubakar64M) February 23, 2016
So happy for #MuhammadNawaz , stood out in this whole PSL! Unbelievably talented…@mnawaz94 @iamAhmadshahzad pic.twitter.com/Z8rAfnT9S5
— Bilal Basraa (@BilalBasraa) February 23, 2016
#MuhammadNawaz is brilliant in the #PSL, What a great talent, All the best for the #AsiaCup and #WT20#PSLFinal @TeamQuetta
— sunny kalra (@sunnykalra2) February 23, 2016
#MuhammadNawaz is the biggest find of this #PSL! His ball to dismiss @bradhodge007 was probably the ball of the #PSL2016! @thePSLt20 #PZvQG
— Zeeshan Shahid (@zeeshans) February 19, 2016
Please groom this guy. Don’t throw him under the bus like you do with young players. He can turn out to be a gem. #MuhammadNawaz #PSLT20
— Muhammad (@M_Usama94) February 19, 2016
In #PSL #MuhammadNawaz Done More For #Quetta Than #PM_Nawaz :-)#PSLT20 #HBLPSL @thePSLt20
— RSK!☪ (@MisterRSK) February 17, 2016
So much so that Imran Khan even softened his stance on Nawazs in general.
Congratulations to @IsbUnited for winning #PSLFinal. Well done @TeamQuetta for reaching the final.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 24, 2016
Also Sharjeel Khan should definitely be in our T20 World Cup squad. Look at the amount of chances Ahmad Shahzad received to prove himself in T20s and look at Sharjeel Khan’s records. Ahmad Shahzad has finally been dropped in T20s, Sharjeel Khan should now get a run.
There was so much young talent on display that Ramiz Raja struggled to remember all of their names.
As for #RamizRaja …. Mute karaiN issayyyyyy!!!!!!
At this point I think #RamizRaja is just trolling us #IUvPZ
— Batool Mehdi (@batoolFYIMag) February 21, 2016
There was something gratifying as a Pakistani to watch Misbahul Haq play the last shot of the competition and pick up the winning trophy. Despite Pakistan experimenting with different captains in every format, for most fans Misbahul Haq is still the man they think of when they think of Pakistan cricket team captain. The entire generation of cricket fans will remember the 2007 T20 World Cup final where Misbah was one shot away from winning the competition for the nation. He may have exorcised some of his demons from that match, and it was an apt response to all of his criticisers.
YES! PLEASE Misbah come back to T20 squad.
We are waiting for you in the final of WT20!
— Crickitis (@Knowledge_Doc) February 23, 2016
Misbah winning it with Sami being in his team, tells a lot about how good a captain he is!
— Crickitis (@Knowledge_Doc) February 23, 2016
At the end of the day, despite the internet making a million jokes about their bed time, Islamabadis celebrated as their team triumphed.
These political jokes Federal vs Chotay soobay are so tasteless. #PSLFinal
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) February 23, 2016
Not sure how many of them stayed up till 1:30 am on a Tuesday night to watch the match though.
RAISE THE CUP MISBAH! pic.twitter.com/L7wg3Nbzow
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 23, 2016
#PSLFinal Justice has been done pic.twitter.com/EoHyOi0ufd
— Asad khan (@kasad6264) February 24, 2016
Lost first 2 matches
Half of the team was injured
Still won the 1st #PSLT20 ever. LIKE A BOSS#UnitedWeWin #PSLFinal pic.twitter.com/WsYow9KqEu— Aleena ✨ علینہ (@AnmolAleena) February 24, 2016
The inclusion of Azhar Mahmood could also not stop them from winning.
Islamabad United lost Shane Watson and got Azhar Mahmood, that is like if Wasim kram was to breakup with his wife and marries Azhar Mahmood.
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 17, 2016
The only solace for Karachites after their team capitulating was at least Steve Harvey would have announced them as the winners of the match.
The only shining light for Karachi Kings was Ravi Bopara, not to brag but I called it.
Not to brag but #PSL #PSLT20 @ravibopara pic.twitter.com/DdL87duQAV
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 23, 2016
#KKvIU No complaints, only respect. #RaviBopara
— Shiza Nasim (@ShizaNasim) February 20, 2016
#RaviBopara is #KarachiKings last and only hope!!!!!
Valuable player #RaviBopara #PSLFinal
— Tariq Mehmood (@tarri_alee) February 23, 2016
THAT’S WHY WE CALL HIM OUR SAHARA! #RaviBopara
— ▪ (@SedLoif) February 20, 2016
And for the sake of the Pakistan international cricket team there are far fewer players calling for the exclusion of Mohammad Aamir; definitely a better option than T20s than the helicopter bowler, Sohail Tanvir.
For Lahore Qalandars, their owner, Fawad Rana got more attention than his team.
Finally I can say I saw him smile #FawadRana
#FawadRana finally smiling!
— ChamChamati ChamCham (@Asparklingspark) February 23, 2016
People are cheering for #FawadRana as well. The coolest franchise owner. :D#PSLT20
— arsalan ahmed jaraal (@arsalanjaraal) February 23, 2016
You may hate Lahore and Lahore Qalandars but you have to admit he is the most adorable team owner ever. #FawadRana pic.twitter.com/U6zKQC2XxA
— Abdul Qadir (@imAQadir) February 18, 2016
Their team just did not click. Despite featuring a number of stars, they had very little team spirit. It also shows that Azhar Ali has a lot still to learn as captain. It was hilarious to see international cricketers laugh at our batsmen running between the wickets.
Mohammad Rizwan has the potential to run himself out on a treadmill
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 5, 2016
Sarfaraz Ahmed and Kevin Pieterson’s partnerships were particularly funny but all in good fun as it was heartening to see one of the best batsmen ever playing for Quetta!
And nothing better summarises Pakistan’s fascination with Quetta than this post by Hasan Saeed.
But Islamabad did not give them any leeway.
Islamabad kabhi kuch nahee dia Quetta ko, PSL toh jeetnay do#PSL #PSLT20 @thePSLt20
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 23, 2016
I guess except the people of Islamabad the country is supporting Quetta….
Iss pyar ko kia naam don??
People like me who were supporting Quetta Gladiators took whatever little solace they could find.
I was supporting Quetta but as a Manchester United fan I am glad United won something at last! #PSL #BPL #PSLT20 #EPL
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 23, 2016
It’s our moral obligation to support #Quetta. #QuettaGladiators #QuettaJeetayGa
— ★Mr.Jamal★ (@JamalNeutron) February 23, 2016
Quetta may have won everyone’s hearts but Pakistan’s favourite team was the Peshawar Zalmi. Captained by the nation’s and Ahmed Shahzad’s heart throb and the winner of the local T20 competition, Peshawar entered the tournament as clear favourites. Unfortunately, despite entertaining and dazzling audiences, they could not get the job done; much like every innings by their captain. Scientists will need to come up with a new term to describe the ultra-short amount of time Afridi ends up at the crease leaving the nation chanting,
“Afridi agaya, Afridi chala gaya”
(Afridi came, Afridi went.)
(Also all of social media)
In fact, the only failure of PSL was the advertisements.
KITNAY ADS DEKHAO GAY? GHAR GHAR SAY AD NIKLAY GA! #PSL #PSLT20 #TenSports #GeoSuper #PTVSports #TVinPakistan
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 19, 2016
I particularly hate Allied Bank for making me hate a child.
Aaj toh mai aapko batao gi sir mai dard karnay kay tareeqay
Aap Kisee kay sir mai dard kaisay karay gay?#PSl #Pslt20 #pslfinal— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) February 23, 2016
Not sure what is worse, the boom boom bubble gum ads or this joke.
There may be some controversy created in the future.
But for now we can all enjoy the entire nation coming together under the banner of PSL. It would be unfair to label the tournament anything but a resounding success! From Aizaz Cheema’s last over to Sir Viv Richards running on to the pitch to Wasim Akram picking up the trophy to Kumar Sangakara and Kevin Pieterson playing for Quetta to listening to Sarfaraz Ahmad speak at 500 words a second to Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan’s fast bowling spells to seeing Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi hit the ball out of the park together, PSL has been a dream come true for cricket fans in Pakistan.
And so, this journey comes to an end. From the entire team @thePSLt20, Khuda Hafiz and Pakistan Zindabad!
PSL: Where the bowling is the best, and the fielding is optional. See you next year. Hopefully back home!
from The Express Tribune Blog http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/32517/psl-a-cricket-dream-that-came-true/
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