PSL 2019: American rapper Pitbull not to perform in the opening ceremony

American rapper Pitbull, who had performed in the opening ceremony of the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in April 2013, was set to make an appearance at the curtain-raiser of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 4 on Thursday but he isn’t. The singer has apologised to the cricket fans in a video saying he was unable to be present on the occasion because of a fault in the plane that was supposed to carry him.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had roped in the popular rapper of international reputation for a whopping $0.7 million to perform at the opening ceremony (almost 100 million Pakistani Rupees) in Dubai for 10 minutes. The expense was also to cover Pitbull’s crew. The decision had raised quite a few eyebrows, including those of some of the franchises who felt the country’s local artists should have been invited instead. The board had said in its defence that the 38-year-old rapper was hired to get the ceremony global traction.

The opening ceremony is set to be a star-studded one with some big names from the global and Pakistani entertainment fraternity set to be present. Geo Sports will broadcast the programme from 9 pm Pakistan time on Thursday. Pakistan’s popular bands ‘Junoon’ and ‘Boney M’ will also perform at the event besides actor-singer Fawad Khan. Fireworks will be also at display, reported Pakistan’s private media channels.

Islamabad United take on Qalandars in the first game

The opening ceremony will be followed by the tournament’s first match between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars who have former South Africa captain AB de Villiers in their ranks.

The business end part of the six-team tournament will be held in Pakistan with the final scheduled in Karachi on March 17.

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