'Universe Boss' Gayle Returns To Pakistan Super League

Self-proclaimed "universe boss" Chris Gayle will help ring in the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League in Karachi on Saturday, with spectators returning to stadiums for the first time in a year.

Despite being the highest scorer in Twenty20 cricket with 13,584 runs, Gayle stumbled in his first two PSL competitions. He managed just 103 runs in five matches for the Lahore Qalandars and 160 in nine for the Karachi Kings the next year.

This year's tournament features several foreign players including the PSL debut of top-ranked Afghan spinner Rashid Khan. England will be represented by James Vince, Tom Banton, and Adam Lyth among others.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will only allow stadiums to be filled to 20 percent capacity during the competition as part of coronavirus precautions. But it is holding out hope that health officials will consider allowing more fans to attend the playoffs.

Last year four league games were held in Karachi and Lahore without spectators before the play-offs were canceled after English batsman Alex Hales revealed symptoms of the virus. The remainder of the season was rescheduled, with three play-offs and a final held without fans.

This year's season marks the second time all games will be entirely hosted within the cricket-mad country. Previous editions were held wholly or partially in the United Arab Emirates over security fears.

A deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus halted international cricket tours to Pakistan, but visits are gradually resuming following security improvements.