Pakistan legend Wasim Akram believes the inaugural Pakistan Super League can boost cricket in the country after a difficult period on and off of the field.

The Twenty20 extravaganza gets underway in the UAE on Thursday, with five franchise-based teams featuring world and up-and-coming stars for showdown clashes in Dubai and Sharjah this month.

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And for Akram, the famous left-armer who claimed 414 Test wickets for Pakistan, he is confident the tournament will provide a big boost to Pakistan cricket.

“It’s twenty days, high-octane, entertainment. The youngsters are rubbing shoulders against the greats of the modern game, learning their drills, mindsets and I only think it’s going to benefit Pakistan cricket in the future big time,” the 49-year-old , who is a team director at Islamabad United, told Sport360.