The Pakistan Super League which will host the majority of its matches in Dubai and Sharjah, "received a shot in the arm" with the inclusion of English batsman Kevin Pietersen, according to K.R. Nayar of the GULF NEWS. The PSL launched its event logo "in the presence of top Pakistan international cricketers with Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi being top draws." The officials were expected to announced the venues for the matches, but "stopped short of finalizing it as they are likely to allot some of them to Qatar -- originally expected to host the entire tournament." The UAE will be the main host, "with their matches scheduled in Dubai and Sharjah." With Qatar "expressing disappointment with the Pakistan board backing out in favor of the UAE," the PSL is now hoping to "pacify Qatar by either staging the opening ceremony or a few matches along with it." The PSL confined its official announcement to "just the prize money," with the winners standing to gain $10M in prize money and each player earning over $50,000. Pietersen confirmed playing in the PSL through a video message that was played during the launch of the PSL logo. Pietersen: "Absolutely buzzing to be a part of the Pakistani mela (event) coming up in February I can't wait to get it started" (GULF NEWS, 9/21).
PSL PULLING INT'L CRICKETERS: CRICBUZZ reported the PSL is a franchise-based T20 tournament and will be played from Feb. 4-24 and is "expected to include five teams from the provincial capitals - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta." Renowned int'l cricketers Chris Gayle, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo and "several other stars consented to their involvement" (CRICBUZZ, 9/20). The DAILY PAKISTAN reported the Pakistan Cricket Board has claimed that as many as 115 int'l players "have so far approached to participate in the first edition of PSL" (DAILY PAKISTAN, 9/21).
