RAWALPINDI: A colourful and impressive ceremony marked the beginning of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The opening ceremony started with the national anthem, and was followed by melodious performances of the country`s renowned singers, including legendary folk singer Abida Perveen, who mesmerised the spectators through her Sufi songs.Before formal opening of the ceremony, the thousands of the spectators were fascinated to see perhaps for the first time a jetpack pilot landing at the middle of the ground after demonstrating his skills all around the stadium amid loud noises.

Ali Zafar, Natasha Baig, Abraul Haq, Talha Anjum and the Young Stunners were the other artists who performed amid dazzling laser lights and cheering by the spectators, comprising mostly the youth.

Renowned international fame singer Ali Zafar also presented a solo performance besides enthralling the spectators with the specially-prepared anthem for the PSL `X`, as it has been named this year, with other singers.

Nearly an hour-long ceremony ended with a spectacular fireworks show as the jubilant spectators got ready to witness the first match of the 38-day tournament between the host and the defending champion Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars. The tournament is slated to run until May 18, with a significant part of it to run parallel with the Indian Premier League.

The 34-match tournament comprises of three-double headers scheduled on April 12, May 1 and 10, while the remaining fixtures will be single headers taking place across Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.

The six teams will also be locking horns to take away the half-a-million-dollar prize money set for the winners, while the runners-up teamwill be awarded US$200,000. The HBL PSL X Draft, which took place on January 13, gave the six franchises an opportunity to refurbish their squads ahead of the historic edition.

The newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is set to play host to 13 matches including Qualifier, Eliminator and the 18th May final.

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, while Multan Cricket Stadium and National Bank Stadium will witness five matches each this season.

The Rawalpindi police had set in place `foolproof` security measures, including providing 5,000 copsfor the tournament, according to a police spokesman.

The security arrangements have been made in coordination with the Army, Rangers and other agencies.

Further, special police teams have been deployed around the stadium and more than 376 personnel from traffic police.

The large numbers of cricket lovers turned to see opening ceremony and first match of the league.

Within first five overs of the match, the stadium was almost full to capacity and fans were enjoying boundaries and wickets. Islamabad United, being host, enjoyed good supports of fans.