Ab Khel Ke Dikha

Ab Khel Ke Dikha

Background and release

← Previous revision Revision as of 14:28, 21 April 2026
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In 2025, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] approached Ali Zafar to create an anthem for the inaugural season of the PSL, running in February 2016. Zafar recorded and produced the song in his studio along with a chorus of 25 male and female singers who also joined him as [[backing vocalist]]s. Zafar has previously collaborated with the PCB for sthe songs of [[2011 Cricket World Cup]], "Jazba" and "Duniya Hai Dilwalon Ki". This time, Zafar told that he kept a s"ort of international feel" in the song blended with "a very Pakistani flavour", in such a way that "it can be hummed by any listener". The anthem was premiered by Zafar at the PSL's logo launching ceremony in [[Lahore]] on 20 September 2015, while [[hashtag]] #AbKhelKeDikha was being used on the PSL's social media accounts to promote the tournament.{{Cite news|date=1 March 2011|title=World cup songs: hits and misses|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/125891/w|access-date=10 February 2021|work=The Express Tribune|author=Rafay Mahmood}}{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/959871/grooving-up-the-psl/|title=Grooving up the PSL|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=19 September 2015|accessdate=5 October 2015|author=Hasan Asnsari}}{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1173886|title=Ab Khel K Dekha: Pakistan Super League to be launched today!|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN Images]]|date=20 September 2015|accessdate=21 July 2017}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan Super League Anthem and Logo to Unveil in a Star Studded Musical Evening on the 20th September|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/15-Sep-2015/pakistan-super-league-anthem-and-logo-to-unveil-in-a-star-studded-musical-evening-on-the-20th|accessdate=8 February 2017|work=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]]|date=15 September 2015}}
In 2025, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] approached Ali Zafar to create an anthem for the inaugural season of the PSL, running in February 2016. Zafar recorded and produced the song in his studio along with a chorus of 25 male and female singers who also joined him as [[backing vocalist]]s. Zafar has previously collaborated with the PCB for sthe songs of [[2011 Cricket World Cup]], "Jazba" and "Duniya Hai Dilwalon Ki". This time, Zafar told that he kept a s"ort of international feel" in the song blended with "a very Pakistani flavour", in such a way that "it can be hummed by any listener". The anthem was premiered by Zafar at the PSL's logo launching ceremony in [[Lahore]] on 20 September 2015, while [[hashtag]] #AbKhelKeDikha was being used on the PSL's social media accounts to promote the tournament.{{Cite news|date=1 March 2011|title=World cup songs: hits and misses|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/125891/w|access-date=10 February 2021|work=The Express Tribune|author=Rafay Mahmood}}{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/959871/grooving-up-the-psl/|title=Grooving up the PSL|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=19 September 2015|accessdate=5 October 2015|author=Hasan Asnsari}}{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1173886|title=Ab Khel K Dekha: Pakistan Super League to be launched today!|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN Images]]|date=20 September 2015|accessdate=21 July 2017}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan Super League Anthem and Logo to Unveil in a Star Studded Musical Evening on the 20th September|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/15-Sep-2015/pakistan-super-league-anthem-and-logo-to-unveil-in-a-star-studded-musical-evening-on-the-20th|accessdate=8 February 2017|work=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]]|date=15 September 2015}}


The [[music video]] for the remix of song was released on 4 February 2016 by [[HBL Pakistan]], on audio of which Zafar then also performed at the opening ceremony in Dubai the same evening.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1031713/a|title=Ali Zafar, Sean Paul set to kick-off PSL in Dubai|date=21 January 2016|accessdate=28 November 2016|work=The Express Tribune}}
The [[music video]] for the remix of song was released on 4 February 2016 by [[HBL Pakistan]], on audio of which Zafar then also performed at the opening ceremony in Dubai the same evening as a closing act before the fireworks.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1031713/a|title=Ali Zafar, Sean Paul set to kick-off PSL in Dubai|date=21 January 2016|accessdate=28 November 2016|work=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/560381-|title="It's Cricketainment!"|date=14 February 2016|accessdate=21 April 2026|work=The News|author=Aamna Haider Isani}}{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/100883|title=Inaugural edition of PSL kicks off with impressive show|date=4 February 2016|accessdate=21 April 2026|publisher=Geo News}}


Upon initial release, Sami Qahar of ''Dawn Aurora'' reviewed the song and called it a "weak link in the campaign" with "cliché music and lyrics", however, after the tournament completed on 24 February 2016, another reviewer Umair Kazi reviewed it as the song "fared well", despite the video shot "around HBL landmarks and branches" and called it complying "the song and dance rituals" of Pakistan.{{cite news|url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1141370|title=PSL and marketing – a decent start|date=23 December 2015|accessdate=21 April 2026|work=Dawn Aurora|author=Sami Qahar}}{{cite news|url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1141411|title=PSL ends and the winner is... Pakistan!|date=25 February 2016|accessdate=21 April 2026|work=Dawn Aurora|author=Umair Kazi}}
Upon initial release, Sami Qahar of ''Dawn Aurora'' reviewed the song and called it a "weak link in the campaign" with "cliché music and lyrics", however, after the tournament completed on 24 February 2016, another reviewer Umair Kazi reviewed it as the song "fared well", despite the video shot "around HBL landmarks and branches" and called it complying "the song and dance rituals" of Pakistan.{{cite news|url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1141370|title=PSL and marketing – a decent start|date=23 December 2015|accessdate=21 April 2026|work=Dawn Aurora|author=Sami Qahar}}{{cite news|url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1141411|title=PSL ends and the winner is... Pakistan!|date=25 February 2016|accessdate=21 April 2026|work=Dawn Aurora|author=Umair Kazi}}