Last night’s Pakistan Super League opening ceremony was a bummer. The only thing that managed to save the PSL 5 opening ceremony was Sajjad Ali’s performance.
Now rumor has it that an Indian director, Shubra Bhardawaj had been appointed to direct the show. What adds to an already messy situation is the fact that the first time an Indian director is appointed the PSL opening tanked. Of course, this resulted in grand slams from cricket fans
PSL ceremony cost Rs 210 million
Ceremony show director was an Indian – have nothing against Indians but at a time like this surely we should be hiring a Pakistani director, not least because they could have done a far better job
What a complete and utter waste of money & time
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 20, 2020
India’s strong opposition to its citizens working with Pakistani professionals in any capacity doesn’t help the situation either. Especially with how the FWICE goes out of its way to prevent Indian artists from working with anyone even remotely Pakistani.
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Others asserted that Pakistani actor, Nadeem Jaffery was the man behind this PSL 5 show. Turns out that although Nadeem Jaffery’s NJ Productions was the company that organized the PSL 5 opening show, they hired Indian director Shubhra Bhardawaj to run the show.
Shubhra Bhardawaj. The Indian director of the PSL Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/LbG5rP2dIH
— Zahid Kiani (@zjk2469) February 21, 2020
This is the woman who has organized the Doha Asian Games 2006, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, and Indian Premier League Opening Ceremony. She boasts an impressive resume alright, but her management of the PSL 5 show was far from impressive.
Shubhra Bhardawaj has over two decades of experience in managing large-scale sporting and entertainment events. Yet she failed to combine the two for PSL.
Since she has directed events like Don’t Let Daddy Know and Tomorrowland Unite, no wonder she forgot to place some lights in there. For those who are unaware, these two were EDM festivals with pitch black darkness and light shows thrown in.
Some new things were tried out at PSL Opening Ceremony this time
This year PSL did go extra with the theatrics, such as the augmented reality display. The fireworks worked up the crowd for a bit, but it wasn’t much given the coin we spilled on the ceremony.
Are you guys enjoying the augmented reality? What about the story of the chakor and shaheen? #HBLPSLV
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 20, 2020
OOOOFFFFF 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SiReJtSZId
— shafaq (@Shafaq3_x) February 20, 2020
20th February, 2020 undoubtedly one of the best days of my life. Can’t be more proud of my country! Witnessed the best. The most energetic crowd! YE HAI MERA KARACHIII!
Pakistan Zindabaad!❤️🇵🇰#PSL2020 pic.twitter.com/VWL3tIhVyO— Izma. (@IzmaSiddiqi) February 20, 2020
The overall quality of the show was so shabby it might have been shattered with one hit.
The PSL opening ceremony was a shambles. Millions of rupees wasted. Either do a better and more professional job or instead give the money you are wasting to charity #PSLV
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 20, 2020
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It’s only fair that people are demanding an explanation as to how did this cost Rs 210 million. All that money and not a single spotlight. Could this have been deliberately sabotaged?
Exorbitant cost compared to the quality of show. @OfficialPSL must clarify. Why engage an Indian Director? Was an advert for tender published nationally and internationally to invite quotations? @TheRealPCB
Cc: @smubashirimam @UPAPakistan @furqantsiddiqui @falamb3 #PSLV— Raza Haroon رضا ہارون (@mrazaharoon) February 21, 2020
People also brought up how the cost incurred wasn’t worth the traffic jams.
As for as aggregate the number of People's, those who suffering due to traffic problems throughout in #Karachi #PSL_burden#PSLV
— A.Razzak dal (@a_razzaq111) February 20, 2020
The authorities will have to do a lot of explaining regarding the dismal opening ceremony for PSL 2020.
I think forget about indian lady director i don’t blame her for this poor and pathetic opening ceremony she did exactly the same what an Indian should do, because no Indian will like to let go any good image of Pakistan in front of the world in any field.
The main responsible person for this pathetic and worst ceremony was who decided and even thought about giving this huge project to any Indian director without thinking the current relationship between two countries and specially how badly they are treating our muslim brother and sisters in Kashmir and those innocent people are waving Pakistan flag and singing our national anthem .
Shame on you the decision maker.