There was plenty of colour. An array of Pakistani TV celebrities added some more to the show.

And then the enthralling performances from Jamaican hip hop star Sean Paul and Pakistani heartthrob Ali Zafar had the crowd on their feet as the Pakistan Super League PCB's ambitious T20 championship got off to flying start on a beautiful Thursday evening at the magnificent Dubai Cricket Stadium.

The five-team tournament has managed to rope in top international stars like Chris Gayle Kevin Pietersen Kumar Sangakkara Shane Watson and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Considering the busy schedule of internationals it's a pretty impressive line-up of players that the PCB has managed to attract.

Now the Pakistan cricket officials will be pinning their hopes on the large number of Pakistanis living in the UAE to make the inaugural event a glorious success.

During an interview with Khaleej Times few months back the iconic Wasim Akram could not hide his delight when we asked him about his expectations from the PSL.

"Well it's massive for Pakistan cricket. The country deserves cricket of such quality. I am very confident that PSL will become the second biggest T20 league in the world after IPL" Akram predicted then.

Well if the first evening was anything to go by his predictions might come true. The turn out for the opening ceremony and the first match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators was highly impressive.

"I want to thank you for your big support today" PSL chairman Najam Sethi told the audience in the opening ceremony on Thursday.

"It's a moment of great pride for Pakistan cricket. I am so happy that all of you have come here to support this event. We have worked very hard to stage an event of this stature and I promise you that we will make it a great success.

"I want to also thank all the franchise owners for their backing. Without them it would have never happened. Also the Pakistani media has been very supportive.

"So after months of hard work we have arrived here. Now we will do all we can to turn this dream into a beautiful reality.

"The time has come to show the world that Pakistan can play cricket and that it can stage a massive cricket event like this.

"And remember some teams will lose and some will win here. But only a Pakistani team will win here" added the top cricket official from Pakistan - a country that has been deprived of international cricket after that attack by gunmen on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 in Lahore.

Despite repeated assurances from their government international teams have refused to tour Pakistan after that attack forcing the country to host teams in the UAE.

Only Zimbabwe travelled to Pakistan for a short limited-overs series last year. So the UAE has become Pakistan's home away from home in international cricket.

It's only fitting now that Pakistan cricket opens its new chapter in a country where they can expect great support from the Pakistani expats.

All the 24 matches in the 20-day tournament are expected to draw big crowds at the Dubai Cricket Stadium and the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium - a venue in which Pakistan have scripted some of their most memorable wins in one-day cricket.

Who can forget that last-ball match-winning six by Javed Miandad off Chetan Sharma in that unforgettable encounter against bitter rivals India in 1986. Now cricket fans will hope to witness many such thrillers in the PSL.