The spectacular HBL-PSL trophy was unveiled in Dubai yesterday and it definitely added to the star power of cricketing greats present in the room.
The graceful Misbah ul Haq, captain of Islamabad United, joined by Lahore Qalandars captain, Brendon McCullum
and Karachi Kings captain Kumar Sangakkara, unveils the Best Batsman trophy.
The shimmering 2017 Pakistan Super League trophy,
created by Swarovski, is unveiled in Dubai.
Dubai
The spectacular HBL-PSL trophy was unveiled in Dubai yesterday and it definitely added to the star power of cricketing greats present in the room. The trophy, studded with more than fifty thousand Swarovski crystals, has been created especially for the tournament and as Andrew Mojica (Managing Director Swarovski ME) said, it took more than four months of craftsmanship to produce. The trophy represents “the brilliance of the universe” and is crowned by a shooting star that stands for all the stars playing in the tournament.
The unveiling ceremony was a star-studded affair with captains of the five PSL teams – Lahore Qalandars, Peshawer Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings and Islamabad United – all present.
Chairman PCB Najam Sethi and former captain/cricket commentator and PSL ambassador Ramiz Raja was also present. Sethi introduced three other trophies that would be awarded to Best Batman (named after the legendary Hanif Mohammad), Best Bowler (named after the inspirational Fazl Mehmud) and Best Wicket Keeper (named after Imtiaz Ahmed). There was a trophy for Player of the Tournament as well, showcased by Shoaib Malik. These trophies were also studded with thousands of Swarovski crystals.
There was buzz and excitement in the air as the media hovered around the captains, all five of them present and revved to win the tournament and lift the trophy. Brendon McCullum from Lahore Qalandars, playing the tournament for the first time, said he fancied his chances due to the strength of his players. Kumar Sangakkara of Karachi Kings seemed confident because he had “good players who are also great people” while Sarfraz Ahmed of Quetta Gladiators was confident because he had “young players” in his lot. Darren Sammy of Peshawar Zalmi liked that his players gelled well as a team. And Misbah ul Haq, captain of Islamabad United – the team that picked up the trophy in 2016 – was confident that his team was consistent and would perform just as well.
Chairman PCB Najam Sethi, seen here with former captain/cricket commentator and PSL ambassador Ramiz Raja, confirmed that the PSL Final would be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The best news for Pakistani fans came at the end of the press conference, when Najam Sethi confirmed that the PSL Final would be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Further details of the planning behind the ‘Final’ being staged on home ground would be shared in due course, the management said.
As Ramiz Raja so aptly put it at the start of the ceremony, “anything associated with PSL is five-star”. Indeed, PSL took off with flying colours in 2016 and this year’s tournament promises to be just as dynamic.
PSL begins with an opening ceremony in Dubai on Fenruary 9 and will entertain cricket lovers across the world all the way up to March 7 in Lahore!
