Dubai, 31 January 2016: Quetta Gladiators became the first team to hit the shores of UAE as Pakistan Super League (PSL) nears materialization with just three days left before the event explodes into action on February 4.
Led by the former captain of Pakistan Moin Khan, Gladiators checked in the Conrad Hotel Dubai with players including England’s Luke Wright, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, international player Saad Nasim, Aizaz Cheema, Rameez Raja Jr, Zulfiqar Babar and others.
Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ahmad Shahzad, Asad Shafiq and Anwar Ali will arrive on Tuesday as they were on the national duty on tour of New Zealand while star player Kevin Pietersen and Jade Dernbach will report on Monday.
Gladiators are involved in the PSL opener against Islamabad United and their all-rounder Saad Nasim has urged the fans to back the team.
“We’ve reached Dubai safely and I would like to call on all the Quetta Gladiators’ fans to support us as we bid to do well in the inaugural PSL,” Saad said on his arrival.
The Gladiators were pumped up on their arrival and even shouted their slogan – Shan-e-Pakistan -- at the entrance.
World’s leading players will be in action in the PSL which includes West Indies’ Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, Australian Shane Watson, Shaun Tait and Brad Haddin, Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.
Apart from them Sri Lankan legend Kumara Sangakkara, Tillakaraten Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis will represent the islanders in the high-profile T20 league while there is strong representation of England as well led by Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Sam Billings and others.
Meanwhile, Islamabd United’s Head Coach Dean Jones shared that his team would play exciting brand of cricket.
“Absolutely delighted to be part of PSL and looking ahead to exciting times over the next three weeks or so. We’re here to play exciting cricket and to hopefully win the competition,” Jones said.
On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars Head Coach Paddy Upton hoped that PSL would emerge as a top league with time.
