Aima Baig sings national anthem at star-studded ceremony in Multan

The eighth edition of the highly anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) has officially begun, with a glamorous and star-studded opening ceremony held at the Multan Cricket Stadium. After a half-hour delay, the ceremony got underway with a soulful performance of the national anthem by singer Aima Baig, dressed in a stunning white gown.

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) President and CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb took to the stage to congratulate the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the successful organization of the tournament for the eighth time. “This is a historic moment, with the opening match taking place in Multan tonight. The HBL PSL has gone from strength to strength, and all stakeholders have worked tirelessly to make this edition a success,” he said.

Najam Sethi, who is leading a panel governing the cricket board until a chairman is elected, proudly displayed a massive replica of this year’s trophy, promising to bring the tournament to Quetta and Peshawar next year.

The crowd was then treated to a performance by Sahir Ali Bagga and Aima Baig, followed by Asim Azhar, Faris Shafi, and Shae Gill singing this year’s official anthem, “Sab Sitarey Humaray.” The ceremony concluded with a dazzling fireworks display.

The first match of the tournament will be between the Multan Sultans and the Lahore Qalandars, led by star wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and a batting-heavy lineup featuring international stars Tim David, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, and Kieran Pollard.

In its eighth season, the HBL Pakistan Super League is set to reach new heights, with the tournament being held across four home venues for the first time since its inception in 2016. After being halted by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the previous edition of the PSL was held entirely in Pakistan, with matches taking place in Karachi and Lahore only. This year, in addition to these two cities, Multan and Rawalpindi will also host matches, giving four of the six teams – the Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, and Islamabad United – the advantage of home support. The Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators, however, will have to make do without the backing of local fans.