PCB defends PSL 2021 song ‘Groove Mera' following criticism

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come out in defense of its newly released song ‘Groove Mera’ saying the board wanted new artists to feature in the anthem to promote musical diversity, Dawn reported.

In a statement to the publication, a PCB spokesperson said that the decision to make Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig and Young Stunners sing the PSL 2021 song was so that new voices who had not sung the anthem before could be featured.

“Naseebo Lal is an extremely talented, underutilized vocalist whose voice has the strength to carry this cricket anthem,” the official was quoted as saying.

He further added that Aima Baig provided young energy to the song while Young Stunners were a natural choice, calling them “leaders in the local hip-hop scene of the country.”

“Cricket and music have always formed a natural union in Pakistan. The thought process was to pave the way for a new sound of cricket in Pakistan that appeals to the multi-dimensional audience that comes with Pakistan’s biggest cricketing event,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier last week, PCB had released a new anthem for the upcoming edition of the tournament scheduled to begin from February 20, saying the song refers to the "swing and feel of the movements of cricketers."

The PCB release added that the anthem was a celebration of Pakistan’s musical diversity. “The mix of artists is particularly exciting as it represents artists from opposite ends of Pakistan’s musical spectrum. The anthem brings together voices from Pakistan’s rich musical landscape: regional folk and urban sounds of pop and hip-hop,” it said.

However, the anthem remained a heated debate throughout the week, receiving mixed reviews following its release. While many expressed their disappointment in the song, it was former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar whose brutal criticism got most attention. Akhtar called the anthem "the worst song that he had heard in the history of the PSL".

The pacer had mocked the new song by joking that ever since he played it for his children; they have stopped talking to him. "My kids are scared of this song. When they don't sleep, I tell them I'll play it for them. That immediately scares them," he said.

Read: ‘Groove Mera’ is the worst PSL song ever: Shoaib Akhtar

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