PSL 7 kicks off with vibrant opening ceremony at Karachi’s Nationwide Stadium

The occasion started with a documentary shedding mild on the journey of cricket in Pakistan that includes a voice over by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja.

Paragliders additionally descended from the sky at one level, making a clear touchdown within the stadium.

Singers Atif Aslam and Aima Baig turned up the warmth on a chilly Karachi night by performing this 12 months’s anthem ‘Agay Dekh’.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s particular message to PSL groups was additionally performed throughout the ceremony, adopted by a vibrant fireworks show.

The ceremony will probably be adopted by a match between defending champions Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam will lead the Kings whereas wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is the captain for Sultans.

The latest rise of coronavirus instances throughout Pakistan has pressured the PCB to restrict spectators in Karachi — which is able to host matches till Feb 7 — to 25 per cent solely, following suggestions by the Nationwide Command and Operation Centre.

No such resolution has been taken for Lahore but, with the town’s Gaddafi Stadium set to host PSL matches from February 10 to 27, together with the ultimate.

It’s not solely the followers who need to face restrictions as a result of pandemic.

The PCB has organized strict bio-secure bubbles for the six franchise sides, with the intent to keep away from delays at any value. In keeping with the taking part in situations set by the board’s technical committee, matches will go forward even when 13 gamers out of the groups’ 20-man squads can be found

In a scenario the place the participant availability is even decrease, affected groups will probably be allowed to choose from a reserve pool. If a Covid-19 outbreak happens, the event will probably be halted for seven days, bio-secure bubbles will probably be reset from scratch and double-headers will probably be held within the remaining days to satisfy the February 27 deadline.

Regardless of these steps, the pandemic has already put a dampener of the occasion earlier than its begin. Earlier in the present day, Quetta Gladiators introduced that all-rounder Shahid Afridi would miss the beginning of PSL after testing constructive for coronavirus.

The primary leg of 15 matches will probably be performed in Karachi from Jan 27 to Feb 7, whereas the remaining 19 matches will probably be held in Lahore from Feb 10-27.