LAHORE: The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium buzzes with excitement as the glittering opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) unfolds, with hundreds of fans in attendance.
The night promises a blend of music, fireworks, and cricketing excitement as PSL kicks off its landmark season in style. Rawalpindi is hosting the league's first game for the first time.
The opening ceremony will feature a range of exciting performances, including renowned Sufi music artist Abida Parveen, a cultural act by Ali Zafar, and a contemporary performance by Young Stunners, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In addition, Abrar ul Haq, Ali Zafar, Natasha Baig, and Talha Anjum, the singers of the HBL PSL X anthem, will also perform.
Following the ceremony, defending champions Islamabad United will face two-time trophy winners Lahore Qalandars in the opening match of the tournament.
The 34-match tournament will feature three double headers on April 12, May 1, and May 10, with the remaining fixtures scheduled across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.
The six teams will compete for the $500,000 prize money designated for the winners, while the runners-up will receive $200,000. The PSL X Draft, held on January 13, allowed the six franchises to refurbish their squads ahead of the historic tenth edition.
The newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host 13 PSL X matches, including the Qualifier, Eliminator, and the May 18 final. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will stage 11 matches, while Multan Cricket Stadium and National Bank Stadium will each witness five PSL X matches this season.
Babar Azam, the leading run-scorer in HBL PSL with 3,504 runs, will lead the HBL PSL 2017 winners, Peshawar Zalmi. Australia’s David Warner will become the fourth overseas player to captain the 2020 champions, Karachi Kings, following Ravi Bopara, Kumar Sangakkara, and Eoin Morgan.
Mohammad Rizwan, who led Multan Sultans to victory in the 2021 edition in Abu Dhabi, will continue as the Sultans’ captain, a role he held 48 times in the previous four HBL PSL editions. Saud Shakeel will take over the leadership of Quetta Gladiators from Rilee Rossouw.
Shadab Khan, who has captained Islamabad United in 55 HBL PSL matches, will continue his leadership role for HBL PSL X. Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi, the only captain to have won consecutive HBL PSL titles, will lead the Lahore Qalandars.
In HBL PSL 2024, Islamabad United won the title for the third time, while Multan Sultans finished as runners-up for the third consecutive year.
'Foolproof security'
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police have coordinated with the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and other security agencies to make foolproof security arrangements for PSL 2025, according to a spokesperson.“Over 5,000 police personnel, along with more than 367 traffic police personnel, will perform security duties,” the spokesman said.
Regional Police Officer Babar Sarfraz Alpa, City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani, and other high-ranking officers supervised the arrangements in the field, he added.
The spokesman said that special police teams, including Dolphin Force and Elite Force personnel, were deployed around the stadium and its surroundings.
He added that authorities set up a special control room to monitor the stadium, its surroundings, and the entire city through Safe City and other CCTV cameras.
He also mentioned that expert snipers were deployed on rooftops around the stadium and along the team's route.
The spokesman further said that authorities allowed visitors to enter the stadium through a walk-through gate and conduct full-body searches.
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