Akhlaq, Imad Starred In Karachi's Big Win Over Qalandars
PSL 2023 | SWOT Analysis: Lahore Qalandars
PSL 2022 | Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United | Eliminator Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI
PSL 2021 | LHQ vs ISU: Shadab makes a Hussain Talat blunder as Rashid, Tim David take Qalandars over the line
It took three years and a big blunder of the size of Hussain Talat by the skipper Shadab for Islamabad united to lose a game against Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, but it finally did happen. In the opening game of the PSL’s sixth edition’s Abu Dhabi leg, Lahore Qlanadras needed 16 runs off the last over and even though, Shadab himself had conceded just 23 runs in his three overs to pick an important wicket as well. But instead of applying himself in the final over, he chose to go to an inexperienced part-time medium-pacer Talat to deliver for the team, which he couldn’t as he was hammered for three fours of the first three balls by Rashid Khan, a double on the fourth delivery meant that only two runs were required of the last two balls and the Afghan took a single to put Singaporian Tim David on strike. Talat bowled a bouncer at last, but a top edge behind the wicket-keeper meant that Qalandars not only won the game by five wickets but also went on to top the table. Explaining this move after the game, Shadab said that due to Ben Dunk, a left-hander being on the crease, he, a leggie could not bowl his one spare over during the 15-19 overs. “When it came to the 20th, the ball was wet and Hussain in the past and in nets had bowled. I was confident in him, unfortunately, it didn’t turn out in our favour. But if given a chance and we are stuck in a similar situation, I would once again for Hussain, ‘ said 22-year-old United skipper. Chasing a small but tricky target of 144 on a two-paced wicket in Abu Dhabi at the Shiekh Zayed Stadium, Lahore didn’t have a great start. Hard hitter Fakhar Zaman was bowled for nine runs by Faheem Ashraf. Sonn after youngster Mohammad Faizan was removed by Shadab at the team score of 44. Mohammad Hafeez and skipper Sohail Akhtar then put up a partnership of 38 runs before a brilliant review, asked for by wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir and taken by skipper Shadab, got Sohail out leg before wicket on the bowling of Fawad Ahmed. Hafeez was trapped by Hasan Ali on a slower delivery just one over after Sohail’s wicket. Ben Dunk and his young Australian compatriot David tried to get as close to the target as possible. The duo added 25 in 23 balls and just as they were about to tee off, another brilliant slower one by Ali in the 19th over removed Dunk. It would have been a perfect 19th over had David not hit a six off the last ball to bring the equation down from 22 off seven balls to 16 off six. Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, Sohail invited Islamabad to bat first. The red lions couldn’t really get going and as a result, lost wickets at regular interval. In fact, at one point in time, they were struggling at 109-8 in 16.5 overs before Mohammad Wasim Junior combined with Faheem to take the team to a fighting total of 143. Qalandars skipper too agreed to the fact that his bowlers gave away extra runs to the tailenders at the end. “We gave away 10-15 runs more than we should have,” Sohail said during the post-match presentation ceremony. The 24-year-old Rashid might not have picked too many wickets, but he along with James Faulkner were the pick of the bowlers. While Faulkner took three early wickets in the powerplay, Rashid gave away just nine runs in his four overs while taking the wicket of Talat. For his extraordinary bowling and match-winning batting, Rashid was adjudged Man of the Match. The Qalandars will be in action once again on Thursday, June 10 when they take on Peshawar Zalmi in the second game of the doubleheaders. United on the other hand would face Quetta Gladiators on June 11 at the same venue.
PSL 6: On the move Islamabad face Peshawar in top of the table clash
Peshwar Zalmi after winning two back to back thrillers have emoved to the second position in the Points table displacing Lahore Qlanadrs to the third. But above them are Islamabad United who are still the only unbeaten side in the Pakistan Super League so far. The two teams will come face to face at top of the table clash when they meet at each other in the second game of the double header’s day in Karachi. While Islamabad seem to have patented the art of coming back from behind and getting partnership in the middle order to chase down any total, Peshwar too have built a rapport in chasing down totals. It would therefore be interesting to see if any of them could break the eight-match streak of not being able to defend a total in PSL. All-rounders hold key for Islamabad Although it has been two Englishmen in Alex Hales and Lewis Gregory who have led United to victory in the last two games, the team is more or less dependent on the all-rounders that it has got plenty in number. Be it Shadab Khan the skipper, Faheem Ashraf, Lewis Gregory, Hasan Ali or Iftikhar Ahmed, the availability of these many players with the dual ability to ball and bat pushes the management to try different combinations. The form of the middle order is another plus point for the team from the capital enjoys ahead of the all-important clash. The Sherus as they are called would be wagging their tails to give it a go against their strongest opponent so far. The likes of Alex Hales, Asif Ali and Hussain Talat would be rubbing their hands to get on to the field and showcase their class as they did against the Karachi Kings. United are also the only team in the tournament so far to play with just three foreigners instead of four allotted in the quota, indicating how much belief they have in their homegrown talent. Peshawar to take inspiration from the last two wins When everyone thought that it was over for the Zalmi, someone or the other always rose to the occasion, guiding the team home, be it Haider Ali or Sherfane Rutherford or senior pro, Shoiab Malik. Even Wahab Riaz rescued the ship with his bat in an unexpected scenario. It is this belief of the team in its players that has been sailing it through all hurdles. But now, this game is going to be a proper battle of the batting prowess of both teams. But usually, such situations bring the best out of the less fancied trade and hence bowling could turn out to be a handy option for the Zalmi if they bowl on the right lengths. Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United: Match Details Match Number- 10 Date and Time: 27th Feb, 07:30 pm IST, 07:00 pm Local, 02:00 pm GMT Venue: National Stadium, Karachi Broadcast and Live Stream: Sony SIX, Sony LIV Pitch Report The same pitch on which the game would have been played in the afternoon would be used for the evening game too. Hence it would most likely be a bit dry wicket early on in the game. But as time would pass, dew would settle in on the ground, making it a flat deck and batting heaven. Weather Update The Karachi weather in the evening is supposed to remain calm with temperatures ranging between 28-24 degrees celsius. In such weather with dew settling in, the captains would be motivated to field first after winning the toss. Probable XI Peshawar Zalmi Kamran Akmal (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali, Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Saqib Mahmood, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan Islamabad United Philip Salt (wk), Alex Hales, Shadab Khan (c), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr Dream XI / Fantasy XI Alex Hales (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali (vc), Sherfane Rutherford, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Saqib Mahmood, Hasan Ali