Every year, PSL songs take the limelight as fans get divided over the best Pakistan Super League song, comparing them to previous years, while artists take it as a challenge to put up their best.

This year, The Current has exclusive insights to a new controversy, which involves a seasoned artist – Ali Zafar.

A source who spoke to us claimed that Ali Zafar was, once again, trying to lobby for the PSL anthem.

According to a source, PCB was in talks with Ali Zafar to sing this year’s anthem but some PSL franchises pushed back saying the artist would tarnish the PSL brand because of the controversies surrounding him.

In response to our article previously published, Ali Zafar had this to say:

“I was indeed officially contacted by PCB to create the PSL anthem for this year. After working on it for two months, hiring musicians and music producers at my personal expense, I came up with three different versions of the anthem for the PCB to choose from. After one of them was finalized and the release was being planned, I was informed that PCB can’t go ahead with the anthem for reasons that I would not like to disclose at this point.

I wish the next team all the best with their endeavours.”

What Happened?

To show his social media strength and popularity to counter PCB’s reasoning, Ali Zafar went over to social media with a plan.

On January 12, Zafar posted on X (formerly Twitter), asking if an anthem by him will “enhance the image of the brand of PSL and PCB, deepen the connection with people, and bring more financial benefit to all stakeholders or will it prove to be otherwise?”.

Do you think that if I did the anthem of PSL this year, it will enhance the image of the brand of PSL and PCB, deepen the connection with people, and bring more financial benefit to all stakeholders or will it prove to be otherwise? Be honest with your votes. I have no ego and I…

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) January 12, 2024

This was followed by a poll, adding that “I will explain later, why I have posted this tweet”.

But when the results started to apparently turn against him, Zafar deleted his poll. This was followed by a post claiming that the polls were rigged with the help of bots.

“Told you to wait to see why I started the poll”, he said.

X users started trolling Ali Zafar because in the screenshots of polls he shared, the time stamp is the same throughout, indicating, according to users, that the pictures were photoshopped.

X (formerly Twitter) Reacts

Bhai images pe time stamps tau sahi tarah photoshop kar letay fazool excuses banaaney se pehlay.

Had to delete your own poll after your terrible plan backfired.

YOU have spent the last five PSL seasons using bot armies to malign the brand & its anthems #PotCallingKettleBlack https://t.co/csq88trb4p

— SillyTiddy (@SillyTiddy) January 13, 2024

Main faarigh hun. Ali Zafar mujhse bhi zyada faarigh hai https://t.co/b9yVeXtf4w

— سیرنڈپیٹی (@marshmellowand) January 14, 2024

Perfect example of "delulu is the only solulu" https://t.co/2EjvLNVJQK

— H. (@impromptu_nomad) January 13, 2024

PSL Anthems

In January 2016, while performing at the launch event of the team Islamabad United, Ali Zafar released the team anthem “Chakka Choka” and performed it in the opening ceremony of PSL 2016 the following month.

Then in 2017, Zafar released the anthem for that year’s PSL “Ab Khel Jamay Ga”.

Controversy

In 2018, singer Meesha Shafi accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment which Zafar denied, taking the matter to court and filing a defamation case against Shafi for slander.

While the case is still ongoing, Ali Zafar has been under heavy criticism for his condescending tone towards Shafi in interviews, while award shows and the entertainment industry has been condemned for engaging him.