It might be a push to suggest the PSL is coming home.
But when the disrupted 2021 season restarts in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening, it will definitely feel a lot like a homecoming.
Pakistan’s T20 franchise league was born in exile in UAE, up the E11 in Dubai, in 2016.
The fact it has taken a global pandemic to return it to these shores feels more or less par for the course. It is totally in keeping with the best traditions of a competition that has had to roll with the punches for its whole existence.
By the time the competition finally beat a retreat from the UAE in 2019, in favour of returning to Pakistan for good, it felt like they had become weary of the place.
At the time, military tension with India had created uncertainty over whether the competition could decamp, as planned, back home.
After the sort of 11th hour negotiating in which the league specialises, it was confirmed the final phase of that competition would proceed in Pakistan – and all future seasons would, too.
That was a huge moment for Pakistan cricket. Finally, it was taking ownership of its own league. No more enjoying it from a distance, via a TV broadcast. Instead, the teams would get to play in their own cities, with impassioned fans filling the stands beyond the boundary.
New recruits for PSL 2021
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1. Andre Russell (Quetta Gladiators). The Jamaican powerhouse is no stranger to the big leagues – nor Abu Dhabi, where he was based with Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2020 IPL. Sportzpics -
2. Shimron Hetmyer (Multan Sultans). The Guyanese left-hander actually replaced a replacement. He was swapped in for Mahmudullah at the most recent replacement player draft. Sportzpics for BCCI -
3. Mohammed Wasim (Multan Sultans). Another new recruit for Multan. The batsman has yet to play international cricket for UAE, but caught the eye in the Abu Dhabi T10 during the winter. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
4. Usman Khawaja (Islamabad United). The Australia left-hander will be representing the city of his birth, having been brought in to cover the loss of England batsman Alex Hales. Sportzpics -
5. Tim David (Lahore Qalandars). A last minute call up to replace Joe Burns, David has a T20 strike rate of 154.07 – and experience of UAE conditions. He played here for Singapore in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier. Getty Images -
6. Martin Guptill (Karachi Kings). While his compatriots are playing in the World Test Championship in the UK, the Kiwi opener will be getting some valuable T20 game time in ahead of the World Cup later this year. Sportzpics -
7. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Multan Sultans). Another Multan recruit who has good knowledge of the local conditions. The Afghan made a hundred on his ODI debut in Abu Dhabi at the start of this year. AFP -
8. Fidel Edwards (Peshawar Zalmi), Peshawar lost this season’s leading wicket-taker when Saqib Mahmood was ruled out by the date change. In comes a West Indies quick who starred in the Abu Dhabi T10. Reuters -
9. Blessing Muzarabani (Multan Sultans). The towering Zimbabwe quick is the latest of the late call ups. His signing was announced while the players were already in Abu Dhabi quarantining. AFP -
10. Sultan Ahmed (Lahore Qalandars). Big boots to fill, having been drafted in to bowl the overs of the unavailable Shakib Al Hasan. But the UAE spinner has shown he can cope, having excelled for Lahore in the T10. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
11. Zahir Khan (Quetta Gladiators) The left-arm wrist spinner from Afghanistan was brought in during the most recent mini draft, as a replacement for Australian allrounder Ben Cutting. Getty Images -
12. Rovman Powell (Peshawar Zalmi) Powell was one of three West Indians to have been recruited by Peshawar since the league was suspended – along with Edwards and Fabian Allen. AFP
All of which sent a vital message that cricket in Pakistan was open for business again.
Yet, while Pakistan cricket made plans, Covid-19 laughed. The PSL's first full season on home soil was cut off at the playoff stage. Stands were emptied by the epidemic. The same happened for its second, and then forced a suspension, too.
When it became clear a restart in Karachi was impractical, they knew who to call. Leaning on that old relationship with the UAE that stems back to early-1980s trips to Sharjah.
Of course, this is less than ideal. But so many of the PSL’s best memories were created in the UAE. All the way back to Mohammed Amir’s hat-trick on the opening weekend.
Or the time Shahid Afridi – when 40-something years young, or thereabouts, anyway – relayed a boundary catch to himself with feline nimbleness, and came to a triumphant stop while stood on the logo of the Karachi Kings side he was playing for at the time.
Or that Friday afternoon which was a throwback to the days of Sharjah’s pomp, when thousands queued to get a glimpse of Afridi’s Peshawar Zalmi – only for the game to be rained off.
The problems for the PSL in the years since have been many. The security concerns, which was the reason it started off it UAE in the first place. The reticence of a number of overseas stars to travel to the first final. The massive bill for securing that trip to Lahore. Political tension with India. Covid.
But through all the rigmarole, Pakistan has built a robust, entertaining league, full of highly skilled players – and from all over the globe, too.
The PSL could well lay claim to being the most cosmopolitan major league in the world.
Much was made last week of the fact the ICC are now – finally – expanding their horizons again, when it was announced future World Cups will have more teams. In 50-over cricket, that will be 14 sides from 2027.
That is still two less than the number of countries who have been represented in PSL – or at least will have been by the time Singapore (via Tim David) and UAE (Sultan Ahmed and Mohammed Wasim) are added the to the list for this tournament.
Of course, the latest recruits have been made from necessity, via a second player replacement draft. But each could shine, and make the mark for a country from beyond cricket’s mainstream.
Which, despite all the blows it has faced, has been the PSL’s greatest gift so far. The chance for its players to shine.
