With the high-profile and exciting Pakistan Super League (PSL) finally taking shape, there is much to look forward to for the well-wishers of Pakistan cricket.

Although it took PSL a considerable time to materialise as a project, I for one never lost hope about it blossoming into a reality since it was headed by a wise and experienced man like Najam Sethi. I must hand it to Sethi Sahab that he never lost his focus in face of heavy odds and remained undeterred by the mayhem around him to pull off a real master-stroke.

I know for a fact that there were many who seriously doubted that the League will ever see the light of the day. They questioned each and every aspect of PSL and remained sceptical about the response of the international players, the franchise bidders, the authorities in UAE who would be hosting the league from Feb 4 and so many other things. So much so, it had become a favourite past time of some of the former cricketers as well as few critics on the media to indulge in PSL bashing.

How these people are now compelled to eat their own words and repent their actions is for everyone to see. Today the PSL has emerged as a successful venture which has drawn a stunning response from the international players including those from England, Australia, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and other prominent cricketing nations which is tremendously heart-warming for die-hard supporters of Pakistan cricket like myself and several others.

The five PSL franchises also recently got sold for over US$93 million and with the hiring of coaches almost complete, everyone is now anxiously awaiting the crucial moment when the hiring of players will take place.

It is no secret how the Indian Premier League (IPL) benefited the game in India and the immense grooming and exposure the young guns in their domestic circuit gained by playing alongside the international players from all around the world.

I see a similar pattern emerging for our players once the PSL commences in the UAE next year. With no international cricket happening at home since 2009, our upcoming players have been forced to play in empty stadiums and in front of a handful of fans which is a far cry from what Pakistan’s cricketers experienced in the 1960s, the 70s and the 80s and the 90s.

For our youngsters in domestic cricket, the PSL will be the ultimate thing, a real shot in the arm which could do their game a world of good besides proving to be a financial boon for them. The mere thought of our boys rubbing shoulders with iconic cricketers such as Kumara Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Shahid Afridi, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Alastair Cook and scores of others makes me happy and gives me definite hope that it is a step in the right direction which will soon pave the way for the revival of international cricket at home.

Here I must also admire the five PSL franchise owners who underlined their patriotism by going one step ahead of the foreign bidders to purchase the teams. It showed how much people still believe in Pakistan cricket, its future and trust seasoned, sincere men like PCB chief Shahryar Khan, Sethi Sahab, chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed and their team of officials who have worked tirelessly to make the PSL a wonderful reality.

All in all, the year 2016 promises many good things for Pakistan cricket. After quite some time, Pakistan have a rather busy schedule of international commitments which include the series in New Zealand, the Pakistan Super League, the Twenty20 World Cup, the Asia Cup, the England series and, who knows, the much awaited series with India as well.

To give due credit, the PCB chief has left no stone unturned in making the India series happen and kept all options open, even to the extent of giving up UAE as the neutral venue and agreeing to play in Sri Lanka. It is unfortunate, however, that the closed-mindedness of the Indian govt and the BCCI have deprived millions of cricket-mad Pakistani and Indian fans of this great contest which could also have been diplomatically fruitful in bringing the two nations closer.

In the end, I wish the team well in all its assignments and sincerely hope that PSL becomes a permanent feature in the world cricket calendar from next year onward.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015