The upcoming opening ceremony of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 will feature a host of Pakistani stars including Atif Aslam, Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig, rapper Imran Khan and actress Humaima Malik, said Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday.
Aslam is set to make his PSL debut with an opening ceremony of the sixth edition. Meanwhile, Khan and Malik would perform along with PSL anthem stars. PCB also released a press release regarding the event.
The PSL 2021 “will start with a glittering opening ceremony on 20 February with an entertainment-packed event” — an annual colorful event since the series’ inception in 2016.
“Along with Atif, renowned rap artist Imran Khan will also be marking his debut at the HBL PSL stage. The HBL PSL 6 opening ceremony will have some parts filmed offshore in a specially designed studio space in Turkey.
“The first four ceremonies were held at the Dubai International Stadium while the 2020 opening ceremony was staged at the National Stadium Karachi and the same venue will play host to the 2021 ceremony,” the PCB said.
Defending champions Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators will compete in the first match right after the opening ceremony.
PCB is hopeful to entertain fans with the opening ceremony of 2021 with the use of ‘state-of-the-art technology’.
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“As always, the excitement is further raised with the opening clash of the tournament, and the people in Karachi, I am sure will look forward to seeing [ing] Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators take the field as they both enjoy a huge fan base in the city,” said the PCB Commercial Director, Babar Hamid.
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Last week, PCB came in full support of the PSL 6 anthem ‘Groove Mera’. In a statement released, PCB said the intent was to make other singers sing the song that have not featured earlier. The board wanted to give the platform to new talent and performers.
“Naseebo Lal is an extremely talented, underutilized vocalist whose voice has the strength to carry this cricket anthem,” the official was quoted as saying.
PCB lauded Aima Baig as the young energy to the song while Young Stunners have been a natural choice, calling them “leaders in the local hip-hop scene of the country.”
“Cricket and music have always formed a natural union in Pakistan. The thought process was to pave the way for a new sound of a cricket in Pakistan that appeals to the multi-dimensional audience that comes with Pakistan’s biggest cricketing event,” the spokesperson said.
Read more: Pakistani celebrities support Naseebo Lal amid PSL 6 anthem backlash
At the time of the release of the song, PCB had said that the anthem was a celebration of the diversity of Pakistan’s music. “The mix of artists is particularly exciting as it represents artists from opposite ends of Pakistan’s musical spectrum. The anthem brings together voices from Pakistan’s rich musical landscape: regional folk and urban sounds of pop and hip-hop,” it said.