Category: PSL

United, Zalmi to lock horns in first PSL 7 eliminator today

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: In the first eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, third-ranked Peshawar Zalmi will compete with the injury-hurt Islamabad United, with the winner advancing to face Lahore Qalandars in the second eliminator, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

Former champions Zalmi and United will be seeking a win to advance to the second eliminator against the Qalandars. After losing to Multan Sultans in the qualifier, Qalandars have already set their sights on the winner of the first eliminator.

The 2017 PSL champions Zalmi, which were struggling to get going in the early stages, have found the momentum. The side won their last four matches including a super over win against Qalandars.

The top-order of the side, except for Mohammad Haris has been a concern for the side as their Afghan explosive batter – Hazratullah Zazai had a forgetful tournament so far.

However, the top-order failure posed little to no concern to the side as the veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik, Hussain Talat, and Ben Cutting are scoring crucial runs for the team in the middle-order.

The bowling department of the Zalmi, led by the skipper Wahab Riaz himself has been through a major confidence booster as Wahab bowled a magnificent super over against Qalandars and conceded only five runs.

However, Mohammad Umar, who went for 23 runs in his last over against Qalandars’ Shaheen Shah Afridi will be a concern for the men in yellow.

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The United, on the other hand, had a contrasting run to Zalmi as the side which was going strongly were jolted by the injury scare as their skipper and the leading wicket-taker of the tournament Shadab Khan and other key players became unavailable for the side.

However, the latest reports are suggesting that the United skipper Shadab Khan and English explosive opener Alex Hales will be available for selection today in their fixture against Zalmi.

Furthermore, fast bowler Hassan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf will also undergo fitness tests prior to the match and might also be available for the match today.

These inclusions may result in a confidence booster for the side, that lost four out of their last five matches. Returning Shadab and Hales can play an important role to assist their side to bounce back strongly in the mega event.

The side also possesses the firepower in their middle-order as Azam Khan and Asif Ali can hit the ball big and can turn things around.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-17, Peshawar Zalmi-9, Islamabad United-8

Usman, Sohail of Zalmi, Hales of United available for PSL 7 Eliminator 1

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Usman Qadir and Sohail Khan of Peshawar Zalmi and Alex Hales of Islamabad United will be available to their teams for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7’s first Eliminator. 

“In light of the amendments of Health and Safety Protocols, which were proposed by the six franchises and approved by the PCB after consultation with Medical Advisory Panel (MAP), Usman, Sohail (both PZ) and Alex (IU) are available for tonight’s Eliminator 1,” PCB released a statement.

Zalmi’s batting coach, Hashim Amla has also recovered from COVID-19 and will be in their dug-out during the first Eliminator.

On Wednesday, Multan Sultans beat Lahore Qalandars by 28 runs to qualify for PSL 7’s final. Sultans, under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan, qualified directly from Qualifier to the mega final for the second consecutive year.

READ: Sultans storm into PSL 7 final at the back of Dahani’s brilliance

Sultans storm into PSL 7 final at the back of Dahani’s brilliance

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: The defending champions Multan Sultans carried their astonishing form to beat Lahore Qalandars by 28 runs in the qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7 and stormed into the final of the mega event.

Multan Sultans’ pacers Shahnawaz Dahani and David Willey triggered a match-defining collapse, causing the Qalandars to slip from 102-3 to 109-6 in the span of an over.

Qalandars’ lower-order then had no answers to the Sultans’ bowling attack and as a result, were restricted to 135-9 in the allotted 20 overs.

Qalandars’ in-form batter Fakhar Zaman and the top scorer also fell prey to the collapse and made his way back to the pavilion after Willey trapped him in legs for 63. The PSL 7 top-scorer faced only 45 deliveries in the course of his innings and smacked four sixes and two boundaries.

The rest of the Qalandars batters could not contribute significantly in the big match and only Kamran Ghulam followed back Fakhar with his 20.

For Sultans, Dahani bagged three wickets, while Willey claimed two. Rumman Raees, Asif Afridi, and Khushdil Shah, on the other hand, struck out a batter each.

After being put in to bat first, the Sultans finished at 163-2 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw.

Sultans, after starting off poorly; losing their in-form opener Shan Masood cheaply for two, bounced back and went on to post a commendable total in the PSL 7 qualifier.

With the side stranded at 3-1, Aamer Azmat joined Rizwan at the crease and recorded an important 47-runs partnership for the second wicket to anchor the innings. Azmat, who was looking solid could not keep going for long as Samit Patel got him stumped in the seventh over.

The young right-handed batter scored a quick 33 off 22 balls; smashing five boundaries. Following his departure, Rossouw and Rizwan then ran into an unbeaten 113-runs partnership.

The pair remained a touch too slow in the beginning, however, accelerated later in the innings. Rizwan scored 53 off 51 balls with the help of three boundaries, while Rossouw top-scored with 65 off 42 balls; smacking seven boundaries and a six.

For the Qalandars, Mohammad Hafeez and Patel made one scalp each.

Qalandars win toss, elect to bowl first in PSL 7 qualifier against Sultans

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and decided to field first against Multan Sultans in the qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hafeez, Harry Brook, Samit Patel, Phil Salt, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shan Masood, Aamer Azmat, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Johnson Charles, David Willey, Asif Afridi, Rumman Raees, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-11, Multan Sultans-6, Lahore Qalandars-5

In-form Sultans, Qalandars eye final berth in PSL 7 qualifier

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: In the qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, the defending champions Multan Sultans will lock horns with the second-ranked Lahore Qalandars to secure a final berth of the mega event, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

With the PSL 7 entering its final stages as the marquee event enters the play-off stage. The top two teams Sultans and Qalandars will be looking to seal a final spot with a victory in the qualifier.

The defeat, however, will not result in the elimination from the tournament as the losing side would still have the opportunity to face the winner of the first eliminator on February 25 under the lights of Gaddafi Stadium.

Sultans, who enjoyed a formidable run in this year’s PSL so far; winning nine out of their 10 matches in the group matches. With their astonishing run, the defending champions became just the first PSL team to win nine matches in the group stages.

The Sultans, who have played exceptionally well in the tournament so far, rely heavily on their skipper Mohammad Rizwan and his opening partner Shan Masood. The opening pair are among the top scorers of the marquee event and will be a major asset for the team.

In the bowling department, the side has the services of the veteran leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Rumman Raees and the young sensation Shahnawaz Dahani. Whereas, Asif Afridi and David Willey can also be lethal.

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The Qalandars, on the other hand, also had a cherished tournament so far as the side finished the points table as second despite a super over defeat from Peshawar Zalmi in their last outing.

In the group stage, the home side managed to win six out of their 10 matches and it is worth noticing that the Qalandars are the only side who managed to beat Sultans, whereas the rest of the sides lost both their matches against the defending champions.

Just like the Sultans, the Qalandars too, heavily rely on their top order and Fakhar Zaman in particular as the left-handed batter has scored 521 runs with a stunning average of 52.1, including six fifties and a century.

Apart from Fakhar, the veteran Mohammad Hafeez has also gained his lost form in their last fixture against Zalmi and may score crucial runs for his side.

The side also possesses the firepower in the bowling department having the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan. Whereas, Fawad Ahmed, who joined the squad in place of Rashid Khan, also chipped in with two wickets in his first PSL 7 match.

Michael Vaughan praises ‘fewer games’ concept of PSL

Posted on by A Sports

KARACHI: English cricketer-turned-commentator Michael Vaughan highly rated Pakistan Super League (PSL) in terms of fewer games. 

Taking to Twitter, Vaughan said PSL leaves fans wanting a little bit more at the end of the tournament.

“PSL has it spot on, high-quality players, fewer games than other tournaments making it a few weeks shorter. It leaves you wanting a little bit more at the end, other tournaments don’t,” he wrote.

34-matches PSL takes only a month to complete. According to many cricket fans and experts, one of the reasons for PSL’s success is the fewer number of games.

READ: ‘Not far off the IPL’ Michael Vaughan lauds PSL

Hales to rejoin Islamabad United for PSL 7 knock-out stage

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Islamabad United’s opener Alex Hales will be rejoining the franchise for the knock-out stage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7. 

As confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hales will be rejoining two-time PSL champions for the playoffs.

Remember, England’s opening batsman left PSL 7 halfway due to personal reasons. United will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first Eliminator of PSL 7 on February 24.

READ: Shadab resumes training, likely to lead Islamabad in playoffs

‘Pray for us’ Rizwan asks fans before all-important PSL 7 qualifier

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Multan Sultans’ captain Mohammad Rizwan asked fans to pray for them as they take on Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7’s Qualifier today here at Gaddafi Stadium. 

In a video message released on Sultans’ Twitter handle, Rizwan said their team is united and playing like a unit.

“We have played like a unit throughout the tournament. Our target is to win the Qualifier and qualify for the final,” he said.

“I would like to request our fans to remember us in your prayers. Your prayers will make us strong,” he added.

Defending champions Sultans will be playing PSL Qualifiers tonight for the third time in a row. In 2020 and 2021, they contested in PSL Qualifiers.

READ: WATCH: ‘Different style Bowling’ – Rizwan’s fun amuse PSL fans

WATCH: Shaheen Afridi reminds fans of ‘Shahid Afridi days’

Posted on by A Sports

KARACHI: Shaheen Shah Afridi stolen the limelight with his batting, smashing 22 off last over against Peshawar Zalmi to tie the last group match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7. 

Not only his thrilling batting, but his celebration style also reminded fans of Shahid Khan Afridi’s era.

Here’s how fans described and compared Shaheen with Shahid.

https://twitter.com/mahanoortweets1/status/1495827712291885056

https://twitter.com/LuqmanA87962796/status/1495840222420127747

https://twitter.com/zaidtunio/status/1495841245410775048

Last year, Shaheen took jersey number ’10’ known for Shahid. The former all-rounder gave special permission to him. Also last year, Shaheen’s family sent his marriage proposal for Shahid’s daughter, which was confirmed by the cricketer himself on Twitter.

“Shaheen’s family approached my family for my daughter. Both families are in touch, matches are made in heaven, if Allah wills this match will be made too. My prayers are with Shaheen for his continued success on and off the field,” Shahid wrote in his Tweet.

READ: Zalmi hold nerve to claim Super Over victory against Qalandars

Dar, Illingworth, Gough included in match officials for PSL 7 playoffs

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Aleem Dar, Richard Illingworth, Michael Gough among the match officials for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7’s playoffs. 

Multan Sultans will meet Lahore Qalandars in PSL 7 Qualifier on March 23. Roshan Mahanama will be the referee of this contest. Aleem Dar and Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires, while Michael Gough and Ahsan Raza will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively.

ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle will lead the playing control team for the 24 February Eliminator 1 between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. Aleem Dar and Michael Gough will be the on-field umpires, while Richard Illingworth and Rashid Riaz will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively.

25 February Eliminator 2 featuring the loser of 23 February match and the winner of 24 February fixture will be refereed by Roshan Mahanama. Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough will perform on-field umpire responsibilities, while Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively.

Umpire and match referee appointments for the 27 February final will be announced after the playoffs.

READ: Zalmi hold nerve to claim Super Over victory against Qalandars