Ali Tareen unhappy over alleged lip-syncing at PSL opening ceremony

As the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) kicked off with grandeur in Rawalpindi, the celebrations were soon clouded by a wave of criticism online, centering around a performance by legendary Sufi singer Abida Parveen.

The controversy ignited when Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), questioning whether Parveen had lip-synced during her set.

“Are they making Abida Parveen lipsync? Please no 🙏🏼,” Tareen posted, expressing concern that one of Pakistan’s most revered vocalists was not performing live.

His comments quickly gained traction, with hundreds of fans echoing his sentiment, labeling the alleged lip-syncing as “unnecessary,” “disrespectful,” and a “missed opportunity” for authentic representation of Pakistani music. Tareen followed up with another post:

“The lip syncing was bad enough…” implying that multiple acts may have mimed their performances.

Read more: PSL X kicks off with dazzling opening ceremony in Rawalpindi

The ceremony featured a star-studded lineup including Ali Zafar, Natasha Baig, and Young Stunners, and was punctuated by a high-energy fireworks display and immersive visuals. While many fans praised the production quality and spectacle, the authenticity of the live musical performances has come under fire.

Despite the backlash, neither Abida Parveen nor the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially responded to the controversy as of yet.

Meanwhile, PSL 10 continues across four major venues—Lahore (13 matches), Rawalpindi (11), Multan (5), and Karachi (5). The grand final is scheduled for May 18 in Lahore.