PSL in pictures: Opening match between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United

The Pakistan Super League got of to a glittering start on Thursday with a thrilling opening ceremony and thrilling opening match

Fans packed out the stadium in Karachi to witness the curtain-raiser for the fifth edition of the PSL

When the action started, Azam Khan hit a half century and led defending champions Quetta Gladiators to a three-wicket victory over Islamabad United, as Quetta reached 171-7 with nine balls to spare.

Azam proved a perfect replacement for Quetta in the middle order after key batsman Umar Akmal was suspended from the PSL for violating the Pakistan Cricket Board's anti-corruption code. After being put in to bat, two-time champion Islamabad was bowled out for 168 against Quetta's three-man pace attack, led by Mohammad Hasnain's figures of 4-25.

Ben Cutting, who got the key wicket of top-scorer Dawid Milan (64) in the 15th over, took 3-31 while Sohail Khan finished with 2-21 at the National Stadium.

Quetta ran into trouble when it lost Jason Roy (0), Shane Watson (15) and Ahmed Shehzad inside the first five overs and stuttered to 26-3. Young fast bowler Mohammad Musa (3-34) had Roy leg before wicket in his first over and then had Ahmed caught at mid on in his third over. In between those two Musa strikes, Watson was run out in a mix-up with Ahmed.

But Azam put the chase back on target with a 62-run stand with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (21) to help get Quetta over line