• Fireworks at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi during the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League on Thursday. AFP
    Fireworks at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi during the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League on Thursday. AFP
  • Fireworks illuminate the sky ahead of the opening match of the PSL between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in Karachi. EPA
    Fireworks illuminate the sky ahead of the opening match of the PSL between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in Karachi. EPA
  • Fireworks during the opening ceremony of PSL 2020 in Karachi. EPA
    Fireworks during the opening ceremony of PSL 2020 in Karachi. EPA
  • Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, centre, during the opening ceremony of PSL at the National Stadium in Karachi. AFP
    Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, centre, during the opening ceremony of PSL at the National Stadium in Karachi. AFP
  • Quetta Gladiators' Azam Khan during the PSL match against Islamabad United at the National Stadium in Karachi. AFP
    Quetta Gladiators' Azam Khan during the PSL match against Islamabad United at the National Stadium in Karachi. AFP
  • Spectators arrive to watch the opening match of PSL 2020 between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in Karachi on Thursday. EPA
    Spectators arrive to watch the opening match of PSL 2020 between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in Karachi on Thursday. EPA
  • Spectators arrive to watch the opening match of PSL. EPA
    Spectators arrive to watch the opening match of PSL. EPA
  • The entire PSL will is being held in Pakistan for the first time. EPA
    The entire PSL will is being held in Pakistan for the first time. EPA
  • Ahmad Shahzad, centre, of Quetta Gladiators after his dismissal against Islamabad United. EPA
    Ahmad Shahzad, centre, of Quetta Gladiators after his dismissal against Islamabad United. EPA
  • Quetta Gladiators' Azam Khan is bowled in Karachi. AFP
    Quetta Gladiators' Azam Khan is bowled in Karachi. AFP
  • Quetta Gladiators' Sohail Khan celebrates with team mate Mohammad Hasnain after the dismissal of Islamabad United's Amad Butt. AFP
    Quetta Gladiators' Sohail Khan celebrates with team mate Mohammad Hasnain after the dismissal of Islamabad United's Amad Butt. AFP
  • Pakistan fans wait for the opening match of PSL in Karachi on Thursday. AP
    Pakistan fans wait for the opening match of PSL in Karachi on Thursday. AP
  • Quetta Gladiators' Sohail Khan, centre, celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Islamabad United's Luke Ronchi. AFP
    Quetta Gladiators' Sohail Khan, centre, celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Islamabad United's Luke Ronchi. AFP

Fireworks on and off the field mark return of PSL to Pakistan - in pictures


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It was a night to remember at the National Stadium in Karachi as the Pakistan Super League returned home in its entirety.

A full house of 33,000 witnessed defending champions Quetta Gladiators take on Islamabad United on Thursday night; the country was hosting the entire T20 tournament for the first time after four years.

In the match, Azam Khan hit a half century to lead Gladiators to a tense three-wicket win over Islamabad.

Azam, son of former Pakistan wicket-keeper Moin Khan, was playing only his second PSL match and proved his mettle by hitting 59 off 33 balls with five fours and three sixes as Quetta reached the target of 169 with nine balls to spare.

Azam, who had been criticised over his fitness, silenced his critics with a composed knock that held the chase together.

Earlier, two-time champions Islamabad were bowled out for 168 after Quetta pace ace Mohammad Hasnain finished with figures of 4-25.

All-rounder Ben Cutting, who got the wicket of top-scorer Dawid Milan (64), took 3-31 while Sohail Khan ended up with 2-21.