Tag: Lahore Qalandars

RAWALPINDI: 2020 Pakistan Super League (PSL) winning player and the current captain of Karachi Kings – Babar Azam congratulated Lahore Qalandars for winning the PSL 7.

Taking to Twitter, Babar congratulated the Qalandars for PSL 7 triumph, while also lauded the performance of both finalists – the Qalandars and Multan Sultans.

The top-ranked T20I batter further heaped praises to Shaheen Shah Afridi, for his brilliant performance as a captain of Qalandars and showed sympathy towards the runners-up finalist’s captain Multan Sultans – Mohammad Rizwan.

Congrats @lahoreqalandars for winning #PSL7. Amazing display of performance by both the teams. Remarkable feat by @iShaheenAfridi and commiserations to @iMRizwanPak and @multansultans. I want to thank the fans for making PSL a hit! pic.twitter.com/ftaCvdiM2z

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) February 28, 2022

Babar then went on to thank the cricketing fans for making the PSL 7 a hit by their immense support throughout the tournament and filling the stadiums to cheer for their favorite teams.

It is apropos to mention here that the Qalandars won their maiden PSL title last night by defeating the defending champions Sultans by 42 runs in the final of the mega event.

READ: Karachi Open Squash Championship 2022 to kick off from March 15

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have picked Australia’s Fawad Ahmed as a replacement for Rashid Khan, who will leave the squad on February 19 owing to his national duty.

Rashid, who is set to represent Afghanistan in their away series against Bangladesh from February 23, will leave the Qalandars’ squad after their face-off with Islamabad United.

As a result, the Qalandars have picked Fawad as the replacement for the remainder of the league. PSL Technical Committee has also approved the replacement request by the franchise.

It’s worth noting that the Qalandars are currently third in the PSL 7 points table, having won three of their five matches.

READ: Masood, David guide Sultans to 182-7 in the first innings against Zalmi

KARACHI: Zaman Khan stunned Islamabad United by defending 12 runs off last over to hand Lahore Qalandars an eight-runs victory and second spot on the points table in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7. 

United’s skipper Shadab Khan and Colin Munro scored 100 runs together to set a perfect tone for their team to chase 175 runs. But, Qalandars’ bowlers managed to take an upper hand in twilight phase of the match.

Shadab scored 52 including four sixes and two boundaries whereas Munro smashed 60 off 45 balls laced with five boundaries and three sixes.

Young Zaman was handed the bowl to defend 12 runs in last over with Azam Khan and Asif Ali at the crease. The youngster showed his courage and determination with perfect line and length to concede just three runs off last over including a wide ball. Also, he bagged Asif on the fifth ball to dent the hopes of United.

Zaman bagged a wicket alongside Rashid Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, also taking a wicket each. Haris Rauf managed to take two.

Earlier, it were Shadab and Waqas, bagging four wickets each to control flow of runs and restrict Qalandars to 174-9 in 12th match of PSL 7 here at National Stadium on Saturday.

Qalandars’ openers Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman gave a solid 83-runs start to their team. But, United’s bowlers made impressive comeback to control the flow of runs.

Sent into bat first, Zaman and Shafique took charge and smacked solid shots around the park to score some handy opening runs. Zaman smashed a six and four boundaries to score 38 runs while Shafique made 44 laced with six boundaries and a maximum.

Shadab removed the opening duo to turn things around for his team. Mubasir Khan supported his skipper to go deep into the middle order of opponents to thrash them.

From 83-0, Qalandars fell to 98-5 within no time. Debutant Hary Brooks rescued his team and scored well-fought 37 including five boundaries and also partnered with David Wiese to score handy 51 runs together for sixth wicket. Wiese contributed 20 runs.

Apart from Shadab and Waqas, Mubasir took a wicket for United.

When the two most followed franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) – Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars meet, fans across the country stick in front of their Tv screens. 

Also known as El Clasico of PSL, Kings vs Qalandars rivalry is the most followed one in the fastest growing franchise cricket league, PSL. The two opponents will meet for the first time under their new captains, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi in sixth match of PSL 7.

Babar-Shaheen are the two most followed cricketers of current era. When the two captains come against each other today, surely it would be perfect entertainment for not only limited capacity crowd in the National stadium but millions of PSL followers across the world.

The two teams haven’t won a match in the league as of yet. Kings have lost both of their matches whereas Qalandars lost their opening game against Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday. It means the arch-rivals will take on the ground in search of a much-needed victory.

HEAD TO HEAD

In last five outings, Kings have won three while Qalandars managed to win two. An exciting contest awaits cricket fans today.

[totalpoll id=”236196″]

LAHORE: All six franchises have completed their 18-member squad for upcoming seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

The league’s new edition will be held between January 27 to February 27 in Karachi and Lahore.

Here’re all six squads for PSL 7

KARACHI KINGS: Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Chris Jordan, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Amir, Joe Clarke, Sharjeel Khan, Aamer Yamin, Umaid Asif, Tom Abell, Rohail Nazir, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Ilyas, Faisal Akram, Qasim Akram, Talha Ahsan, Romario Shepherd

LAHORE QALADARS: Fakhar Zaman, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdullah Shafique, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun Mehmood

ISLAMABAD UNITED: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Hasan Ali, Marchant De Lange, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Akhlaq, Reece Topley, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Paul Stirling, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ather Mehmood

PESHAWAR ZALMI: Hazratullah Zazai, Liam Livingstone, Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Haider Ali, Usman Qadir, Saqib Mahmood, Hussain Talat, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Sameen Gul, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sirajuddin, Mohammad Amir Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Haris

QUETTA GLADIATORS: Jason Roy, James Vince, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, James Faulkner, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Ben Duckett, Khurram Shehzad, Naveenul Haq, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mohammad Ashar Qureshi, Noor Ahmad, Ahsan Ali

MULTAN SULTANS: Tim David, Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Odean Smith, Sohaib Maqsood, Imran Tahir, Rumman Raees, Asif Afridi, Anwar Ali, Rovman Powell, Imran Khan Sr, Abbas Afridi, Aamer Azmat, Blessing Muzarabani, Ihsanullah

READ: PSL 7 Draft: Teams complete their squads for PSL 7

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former cricketer, Rashid Latif, while talking to the media, here on Tuesday, commended the initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan and is hopeful to bring talented sportsperson in the spotlight.

Rashid, a former cricketer, expressed his optimism that the sports drive will bring out exceptional players not only in cricket but in other sports as well.

“Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive is the best initiative by PM, the drive will bring forth talented athletes from a variety of sports, not only cricket.”, he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) should also step out to support this idea, according to Rashid. He also lauded Lahore Qalandars, a PSL franchise, for the players’ development.

“We need to work like the Lahore Qalandars if we want to develop our players.”, he concluded.

READ: PM Imran inaugurates Pakistan’s largest ‘Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive’

Abu Dhabi: Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators will return to Pakistan tonight after exit from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.
Both sides were unable to qualify for the playoffs. Gladiators will reach Karachi at 2.00 am while Qalandars will fly from Abu Dhabi around midnight. Both teams will arrive in Pakistan on a commercial flight.
Meanwhile, players part of the Green Shirts for the tour of England will stay in Abu Dhabi.
It must be noted that round-robin games in PSL 6 have been concluded. Islamabad United, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings qualified for the final four.
United and Sultans will take on first at 6.00 pm in Qualifier 1 while Zalmi and Kings to face each other in Eliminator.

Read: Kohli keeps New Zealand at bay in World Test final

After a demoralizing postponement due to COVID-19 in March, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season is back from today at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Fourteen matches were played at the National Stadium in Karachi. The four top teams have all won three matches each while Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators have bagged one. The onus is now going to be on adapting quickly to the conditions.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will go head to head at 9.00 PM. Islamabad are at the third position while Lahore are a position lower at fourth due to a slight different in the net run rate. The winner will go at the top with four wins and eight points.

Lahore Qalandars

Lahore Qalandars will look to bank on their promising bowling line-up. Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain, and Ahmed Daniyal are going to be the strike bowlers while Mohammad Hafeez, Seekuge Prasanna, James Faulkner supporting the above-mentioned.
Qalandars batting were also on the show during Karachi leg. The highest run-getters for them are Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman with more than 180 runs each.
Australia’s duo of Ben Dunk and Calum Callum Ferguson will bring their heavy T20 experience while Singapore’s Tim David will look to replicate his BBL’s performance lower down the order.

Islamabad United

Islamabad United played impressively in Karachi but they have been hit by the absence of their overseas players. Alex Hales and Phil Salt are not a part of the squad and they have replaced by Usman Khawaja and Colin Munro, the likely openers.
United will heavily rely on local stars to do well. The roti-gang of Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Asif Ali will look to take United’s hopes while Iftikhar Ahmed, Hussain Talat and Zafar Gohar would once again claim their stake.
The bowling attack for Islamabad United is unchanged and so this can be seen as an area of strength. Hasan Ali is in the middle of a fantastic period of his career and is the bowler to watch out for. With Fawad Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Musa also in the squad, Islamabad United has a lot of options to work with.

Conditions

The conditions in Abu Dhabi are going to be very hot and temperatures can hit 40 degrees celsius as well. With start times later in the evening, it is hoped that the players are going to be able to adapt to the tough conditions.
The pitch must be flat and good for batting. The outfield is of a decent size and so the spinners play a big role. A score of around 170 should be seen as par batting first.

Likely XIs

Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja, Shadab Khan (C), Hussain Talat, Rohail Nazir (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Fawad Ahmed
Lahore Qalandars:
Sohail Akhtar (C), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Callum Ferguson, Ben Dunk (WK), Tim David, Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain, Ahmed Daniyal

Abu Dhabi: Lahore Qalandars’ overseas player Ben Dunk has injured himself while doing catching practice, the franchise confirmed.
According to details, the wicketkeeper-batsman Dunk got hit on his lips. He ended up with seven stitches and also underwent surgery for realignment of his lips.
Qalandars are hopeful that Dunk will recover before their match against Islamabad United, scheduled on June 9.

Read: Five cricketers still await UAE visas for PSL 6