The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off in April 2008 and took the world by storm. Cricket fans from all over the globe enjoyed this T20 spectacle as Shane Warne led a spirited Rajasthan Royals side to an unexpected victory. The best part about it, from a Pakistan perspective, was that the leading wicket taker of the inaugural tournament was a left-arm Pakistani swing bowler Sohail Tanvir.
Since then, the IPL has become an annual cricket festival that is followed thoroughly by cricket lovers. The sad part though, is that Pakistani players have not appeared in an IPL fixture since the final of the first edition due to the Indo-Pak tension resulting from the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
However, these series of events did not stop the Pakistani public from watching their favourite sport, as majority of them still adamantly follow this T20 fiesta.
Here are the eight reasons why the IPL is still very popular in Pakistan:
1. Chris Gayle:
The cricket world has seen many big hitters but never has it seen one that can perform so consistently. Christopher Gayle stands tall and sends the cricket ball to all parts of the ground. It seems as if he swats the ball with a minimum effort and boy does he hit it far. The Jamaican can not only pummel the opposition bowlers, but can also show off a dance move or two in the cricket field while he is at it!
2. The Bollywood connection:
What makes the IPL more interesting is the fact that three of the nine participating teams are owned by Bollywood superstars. Famous actresses Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta are the respective owners of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are owned by the Subcontinent’s sweetheart, Shahrukh Khan. Pakistan has a massive Bollywood fan base and the masses love to watch their favourite movie stars mingle with the world of cricket.
3. Retired cricketers:
A number of retired cricket heroes still play competitive cricket in the IPL, including the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Rahul Dravid, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sachin Tendulkar. Cricket fans cherish the sight of their icons playing in the top flight, and the IPL provides just that!
4. Young talent:
The rules of IPL state that at least two players in each team should be under the age of 22. Pakistani cricket lovers enjoy watching and comparing young Indian talent across the border to their own budding stars. Moreover, they are eager to find out whether the men in blue have another potential Tendulkar within their ranks.
5. The Pakistani representation:
Pakistani players might not be permitted to compete in the IPL, but a number of Pakistani’s are a part of the mix. Renowned Pakistani umpires Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf officiate in several games, while the voice of commentator Rameez Raja is frequently heard. To top it off, Pakistani bowling legends Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed have all served as bowling consultants for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils respectively.
6. The British Pakistani representation:
It is amazing what a different coloured passport can do for you in today’s world. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has sneaked his way through into the Kings XI Punjab line-up by virtue of his British citizenship. Azhar is a T20 specialist and has won his team some very crucial games in the fifth edition of the IPL. It takes a great amount of pleasing in order to become a hero for the fans back home and Azhar has done exactly that.
7. The cheerleaders:
What is T20 cricket without music, dance and fireworks? Each time a batsman scores a boundary or a bowler grabs a wicket, the stadium goes berserk as the fans celebrate by chanting and enjoying the dances performed by the cheer-leading squad. Each franchise has its own different set of cheerleaders that entertain the crowd throughout the 40 overs played. Beautiful women and nail biting cricket is not a bad combination at all!
8. Love for the sport:
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the passion Pakistani’s possess for the game of cricket. That, along with the general buzz and excitement that revolves around T20 cricket makes the IPL a perfect after work activity for the common Pakistani.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17046/eight-reasons-why-the-ipl-is-popular-in-pakistan/
Since then, the IPL has become an annual cricket festival that is followed thoroughly by cricket lovers. The sad part though, is that Pakistani players have not appeared in an IPL fixture since the final of the first edition due to the Indo-Pak tension resulting from the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
However, these series of events did not stop the Pakistani public from watching their favourite sport, as majority of them still adamantly follow this T20 fiesta.
Here are the eight reasons why the IPL is still very popular in Pakistan:
1. Chris Gayle:
The cricket world has seen many big hitters but never has it seen one that can perform so consistently. Christopher Gayle stands tall and sends the cricket ball to all parts of the ground. It seems as if he swats the ball with a minimum effort and boy does he hit it far. The Jamaican can not only pummel the opposition bowlers, but can also show off a dance move or two in the cricket field while he is at it!
2. The Bollywood connection:
What makes the IPL more interesting is the fact that three of the nine participating teams are owned by Bollywood superstars. Famous actresses Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta are the respective owners of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are owned by the Subcontinent’s sweetheart, Shahrukh Khan. Pakistan has a massive Bollywood fan base and the masses love to watch their favourite movie stars mingle with the world of cricket.
3. Retired cricketers:
A number of retired cricket heroes still play competitive cricket in the IPL, including the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Rahul Dravid, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sachin Tendulkar. Cricket fans cherish the sight of their icons playing in the top flight, and the IPL provides just that!
4. Young talent:
The rules of IPL state that at least two players in each team should be under the age of 22. Pakistani cricket lovers enjoy watching and comparing young Indian talent across the border to their own budding stars. Moreover, they are eager to find out whether the men in blue have another potential Tendulkar within their ranks.
5. The Pakistani representation:
Pakistani players might not be permitted to compete in the IPL, but a number of Pakistani’s are a part of the mix. Renowned Pakistani umpires Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf officiate in several games, while the voice of commentator Rameez Raja is frequently heard. To top it off, Pakistani bowling legends Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed have all served as bowling consultants for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils respectively.
6. The British Pakistani representation:
It is amazing what a different coloured passport can do for you in today’s world. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has sneaked his way through into the Kings XI Punjab line-up by virtue of his British citizenship. Azhar is a T20 specialist and has won his team some very crucial games in the fifth edition of the IPL. It takes a great amount of pleasing in order to become a hero for the fans back home and Azhar has done exactly that.
7. The cheerleaders:
What is T20 cricket without music, dance and fireworks? Each time a batsman scores a boundary or a bowler grabs a wicket, the stadium goes berserk as the fans celebrate by chanting and enjoying the dances performed by the cheer-leading squad. Each franchise has its own different set of cheerleaders that entertain the crowd throughout the 40 overs played. Beautiful women and nail biting cricket is not a bad combination at all!
8. Love for the sport:
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the passion Pakistani’s possess for the game of cricket. That, along with the general buzz and excitement that revolves around T20 cricket makes the IPL a perfect after work activity for the common Pakistani.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17046/eight-reasons-why-the-ipl-is-popular-in-pakistan/
