With the dawn of 2017, as we look forward to the second edition of the HBL PSL, I would like to thank the HBL PSL Governing Council, the Franchisees, our Sponsors , Broadcasters , my team members and all other partners for making this tournament a huge success. We couldn't have done it without the support of each one of them.
There were many challenges and hurdles but we took them in our stride and fought against all odds to bring HBL PSL on the map of the cricketing world.
Initially, when the idea was floated to our corporate partners, they seemed hesitant, but once we were able to convince them that this would definitely be a journey worth embarking upon, they joined in with full enthusiasm. The involvement of the private sector in cricket was an important step and one that has been beneficial to other Boards and will hopefully bring the same benefits to cricket in Pakistan.
As this was a first ever of its kind tournament in Pakistan, finding the right resources was a challenging job. A new team was built and trained under the experienced PCB management. We all exceeded the set individual targets and collectively staged the country's biggest cricketing event.
I recall spending the entire time of the opening ceremony in the car park of Dubai Stadium, all nervous and in jitters, trying to tie up last minute loose ends. The sound of the applause and the crowd roaring inside was music to my ears. I couldn't hold back my tears and neither could the rest of my team. Nearly everyone was teary eyed as the exhaustion and stress of the last few months melted away in jubilation at the successful launch!
The first edition of the HBL PSL had unprecedented TV ratings, packed stadiums and phenomenal fan engagement. The franchisees are elated with the increased value of their assets and offers for additional teams are already coming in.
As we gear up for the second season and the final at Gaddaffi stadium Lahore ( Insha Allah), a lot of pressure and anxiety is building up , but at the same time we are excited to bring the tournament home for the Pakistani fans to enjoy. We are aware that there are many expectations for this year's tournament as we have set the bar high, but we will try to make it bigger and better. We have been cautioned by our consultants and other partners that it is the norm for ALL tournaments worldwide to take a slight dip in the second edition. We are striving to ensure that it doesn't happen in the HBL PSL 2017!
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