Curtains fell on the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 with an impressive and simple closing ceremony that was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. The 'city of lights,' as Karachi is fondly called, reverberated with songs and chants from the spectators during the week-long spectacle, declared as 'the week of cricket festival' by the Sindh government. The theme of these matches was 'I love cricket'.
Spectators, players and officials observed a one-minute silence for all those who lost their lives in the heinous attacks on the mosques on Friday in Christchurch, New Zealand. The first 26 matches of the HBL-PSL season four were played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, while the last eight matches were played in Karachi. The closing ceremony had music with famous singers Abrar-ul-Haq, Junoon, Fawad Khan featuring Young Desi, Aima Baig and Shuja Haider and Sahir Ali Bagga performing. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani welcomed the packed 32,000 crowd. "We are ready for the final," said Mani. "Around 250,000 people have watched the matches in the stadium in the last week and millions on television. "One should remember that its cricket which brings happiness.
"We thank the government of Pakistan, our armed forces and government of Sindh for helping us stage these matches." Mani thanked all the 39 foreign players who visited Karachi for the final leg of the tournament, saying: "I would like to thank all the foreign players and officials. You have seen for yourself the passion of people here and we hope to see you for all the HBL PSL matches in Pakistan next year," said Mani. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also vowed to bring international cricket back in Pakistan after the successful staging of the PSL finals for two years. "Two years ago, I promised that we will bring the PSL matches to Karachi," said Shah. "Last year, we hosted the final and this year we staged eight matches here.
"I salute the fans of Karachi who despite all problems helped us for the final. "The government of Sindh will strive for the return of international cricket in Pakistan and that too will start from Karachi."
"I thank all the foreign players for visiting Karachi and, in the end, I would say whoever wins the final, cricket will be the winner, people of Karachi will be the winner and Pakistan will be the winner," said Shah. Former Spanish football superstar Carles Puyol, on a football promotion tour of Pakistan, also attended the closing ceremony as a special guest. "Thank you Pakistan for this amazing welcome," said Puyol to the packed stadium. "I know people here love cricket, but they also love football."
Pakistan and Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said "I thank the crowd for coming in big numbers, people have sent a clear message that Pakistan love cricket and it is safe for cricket."
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