Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
Muscat: The 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL) ended on a high note in Karachi with an impressive and star-filled closing ceremony where thousands of people from across the country attended the final match where Quetta Gladiators took the title.
Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan congratulated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and all the authorities involved for holding a successful event this year.
“Congratulations to PCB, all the organisers and security forces for holding a successful PSL extravaganza in Pakistan. Congratulations to Quetta Gladiators and their manager and my friend Viv Richards on their win. Inshallah, the next PSL will be held entirely in Pakistan,” Khan wrote on his official twitter account.
Quetta Gladiators team mentor, Sir Vivian Richards who is a former all rounder of the West Indies national cricket team also took to the twitter and responded to Khan’s tweet.
“Thanks a lot Imran. Your words mean a lot. This victory of the sport will only give Pakistan Cricket the boost they need to move ahead. God Bless you all!”
He continued tweeting and said a big thanks to all his fans and cricket lovers in Pakistan.
“A big thank you to all the fans, Pakistan's cricket lovers, People of Karachi, and all the members of the Team Quetta family. Sending you all the love,” Richards wrote on his Twitter account.
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The first 26 matches of the Twenty20 league took place in the United Arab Emirates. However, three of the last eight matches that were scheduled to be played in Lahore were then held in Karachi. A huge number of international cricket players were welcomed that had an amazing time playing the much-loved sport, cricket, in the most populous city of Pakistan.
Shane Watson, the Australian all-rounder from the winning team was the highest run-maker in the PSL 2019 and was declared player of the tournament as he scored 430 runs at an average of 43 in 12 matches. He also took to his twitter account and bid farewell to the team.
“Saying farewell to a few of the main men at Team Quetta. It has been such an amazing five weeks or so with my time in Karachi being the absolute highlight. What a way to finish things off last,” Watson said.
Another West Indies player, Darren Sammy, who played for Peshawar Zalmi and faced the winning team in the finals said he would be back to play more cricket soon.
“Pakistan I'll be back. Thank you for all the love and support. Karachi was electric – one of the best atmospheres I've played in. Great place to play cricket,” Sammy, who writes under the name ‘Clara’s Boy’ on twitter said.
Moreover, players from team Peshawar Zalmi, Hasan Ali and Kieron Pollard won the titles of the highest wicket-taker and best all-rounder at PSL 2019. Ali managed to take 25 wickets at an average of 13.64 in 13 matches, and Pollard was named best all-rounder for his blasting innings in the tournament as he smashed 284 runs and hit 13 sixes.
