Tag: Pakistan Super League

LAHORE: Multan Sultans’ pace prodigy Ihsanullah was adjudged as the Player of the tournament of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8 in a glittering award distribution ceremony after an enthralling final.

Ihsanullah, who enjoyed a stunning and consistent run in the recently-concluded PSL 8, became the first emerging player and bowler to win the most prestigious individual award of the PSL.

The right-arm pacer finished an incredible season with 22 wickets with an economy of just 7.59 was also adjudged the bowler of the tournament.

Multan Sultans’ skipper Mohammad Rizwan was named the batter of PSL 8 after he won the Hanif Mohammad Cap for the highest run-scorer of the tournament. He concluded the extravaganza with 550 runs at a strike-rate of 142.85 with a century and four half-centuries.

The Sultans’ captain also scooped the golden glove award for winning the wicketkeeper of the tournament for 14 dismissals behind the wicket (13 catches and one stump).

Sultans’ Abbas Afridi, who finished as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets at an economy rate of 9.45 with two four-fers and a hat-trick, was also named the emerging player of the tournament. Whereas, Sultans’ experienced all-rounder Kieron Pollard collected the Best Fielder of PSL 8 award.

Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim, who enjoyed a phenomenal season with the bat, was named the all-rounder of the tournament. Imad scored 404 runs at a strike rate of over 170 and also claimed nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.93. He also remained unbeaten on seven instances.

Individual Awards

Player of the PSL 2023 – Ihsanullah
Umpire of PSL 2023 – Alex Wharf
Batter of PSL 2023 – Mohammad Rizwan
Bowler of PSL 2023 – Ihsanullah
Wicketkeeper of PSL 2023 – Mohammad Rizwan
Fielder of PSL 2023 – Kieron Pollad
Allrounder of PSL 2023 – Imad Wasim
Emerging Player of PSL 2023 – Abbas Afridi
Spirit of Cricket Award – Peshawar Zalmi

READ: All-round Shaheen-led Qalandars lift second consecutive PSL title

LAHORE: Young pacer Zaman Khan held his nerves calm to defend 13 runs in the final over to power Lahore Qalandars to the second consecutive PSL title after skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi’s all-round brilliance against Multan Sultans.

Set to chase 201, the Sultans fell just one run short of forcing the super over in the final as they could accumulate 199/8 in their quota of 20 overs despite Rossouw’s quick half-century.

Sultans’ openers Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan scripted a flying start to the run chase as the pair charged on the Qalandars’ bowlers right from the start and amassed 41 runs inside four overs.

David Wiese then rattled Usman’s stumps to hand a much-needed breakthrough to the Qalandars. He scored 18 off 12 deliveries.

Sultans’ skipper Rizwan then joined hands with Rossouw and stitched a crucial second-wicket partnership; adding 64 runs at a brisk rate before Rashid Khan forced Qalandars’ comeback.

The seasoned leg-spinner removed both set batters Rizwan and Rossouw in his successive overs and pulled down Sultans to 122/3 in the 13th over.

Rossouw top-scored for the Sultans with 52 in 32 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes. Rizwan, however, scored 23-ball 34, hitting five boundaries.

Middle-order batters Kieron Pollard and Tim David kept Sultans in the hunt with a vital 24-run partnership for the fourth wicket but Shaheen wreaked havoc by taking four wickets in his last two overs.

The left-arm pacers dismissed Pollard (19) in his third over before removing David (20), Anwar Ali (1) and Usama Mir (0) in his last over and halted Sultans to 177/6 in 18 overs.

When it all seemed to be going Qalandars’ way, Abbas Afridi glimmered a ray of hope for Sultans as he baton charged Haris Rauf in the 19th over, which went for 22 runs.

The game was hanging in balance when Zaman came to defend 13 runs in the final over with Khushdil set on his crease and Abbas striking astonishingly but the young right-arm pacer held his nerves in the clutch situation and yet again succeeded in defending the total for the Qalandars.

Following his exceptional death bowling, the Qalandars managed to seal a narrow one-run victory over the Sultans and became the first side to win two PSL titles in a row.

Shaheen led the bowling attack for the Qalandars with 4/51, followed by Rashid’s 2/26. Wiese, on the other hand, made one scalp.

Opting to bat first in the final, the defending champions managed to put on a massive total at the back of a brilliant fifty by Abdullah Shafique and Shaheen’s brisk 44.

The openers Fakhar Zaman and Tahir Baig started cautiously for the Qalandars as the pair could raise 38 before Ihsanullah dismissed the latter on the last delivery of the fifth over to draw the first success for the Sultans.

Baig scored a quick 30 in just 18 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six.

Fakhar then joined hands with Abdullah and the duo added 57 runs for the second wicket but remained a touch slow in the process as they conceded 38 deliveries before Fakhar fell victim to Usama Mir.

The left-handed opener remained the notable run-getter for the Qalandars with 39 off 34.

Sam Billings (9) then put on a brief partnership with Abdullah and could add just 16 runs before Sultans’ spinners Usama and Khushdil Shah changed the dimension of the game.

Sultans’ spin duo struck thrice in four deliveries; removing Billings (9), Ahsan Hafeez (0) and Sikandar Raza (1) and bolstered their side to halt the Qalandars to 115/5 in 15 overs.

Following the slump, Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen stood up for his team by once again promoting himself in the batting order and counter-attacked with belligerent hitting.

Shaheen stitched a match-defining 66-run partnership with Abdullah for the sixth wicket before the latter finally perished in the 19th over after playing a sensible knock.

Abdullah top scored for the Qalandars with 65 in 40 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries including two sixes.

On the other hand, Shaheen continued his domination over clueless Sultans’ bowlers and took his side to amass the 200-run mark by hitting a six on the final delivery of the innings.

He remained unbeaten with his 15-ball 44 which featured two boundaries and five sixes.

Usama led the bowling attack for the Sultans with 3/24 while Ihsanullah, Khushdil and Anwar Ali could pick up a wicket apiece.

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and elected to bat first in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight against Multan Sultans.

PLAYING XIs

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Ahsan Bhatti, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Usman Khan, Rilee Rossouw, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Ihsanullah.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 16, Lahore Qalandars 8, Multan Sultans 8

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi expressed his strive to expand the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by adding two more teams in the next edition.

Sethi held a press conference here at Gaddafi Stadium to reflect on the ongoing PSL 8 which will conclude with a blockbuster final between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans and hinted at the cricket board’s plans for the next edition.

“If you ask me what are our plans for the next PSL, keeping it brief my strive is to add two more teams. But obviously, this decision is subject to the approval of the franchises and is impossible without doing the homework,” said Sethi.

“That is because if any franchise suffers a loss by the addition of two more franchises then it is not a good thing to do. It must be a win-win situation for everyone. So I’m doing homework on this.

“We had a brief discussion with the franchises and after the conclusion of this PSL, we will formally start consulting them the next month about the addition of teams and the model after the completion of 10 years.”

The PCB chief further commented on the future of the upcoming Pakistan Women’s League and shared the officials are considering three options for the inaugural event.

“There are multiple opinions regarding the Women’s League, one is that it should be held in September and should be stand-alone. The second is that it should be organized simultaneously with the next PSL to reduce the cost and the third issue is that to whom the franchises should be sold,” shared Sethi.

“Whether the first option should be the existing male franchise owners or it should be completely stand-alone and different. But I must tell you if we are planning to feature four to five teams then we already have enough interest that you assume all five franchises have been sold out,” Sethi added.

“Such is the interest in the Women’s league, especially from the abroad, from overseas Pakistanis. So, our problem is not to sell the team but to develop our players,” he concluded.

READ: All-round Qalandars down Zalmi to set up PSL 8 final clash with Sultans 

LAHORE: Young opening batter Tahir Baig’s sensible 54-run knock powered Lahore Qalandars into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight final with a narrow four-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminator 2 on Friday.

The Qalandars will now defend their title against Multan Sultans in the final, who thumped them by a massive margin of 86 runs in the qualifier on Wednesday.

Set to chase 172, the Qalandars accumulated 176/6 with seven balls to spare at the back of an anchoring half-century by opener Tahir.

The Qalandars had an unwanted start to the pursuit as the home side lost two quick wickets for a mere 38 runs in the fifth over with their hard-hitting opener Fakhar Zaman (6) and debutant Ahsan Bhatti (15) perishing cheaply.

Abdullah Shafique then joined hands with Tahir and put on a brief 31-run partnership before a mix-up between the wickets saw the end of the former’s innings, who perished for a run-a-ball 10.

Despite his side losing wickets at regular intervals, Tahir held his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking sensibly before putting a crucial partnership with Sam Billings with the pair adding 50 runs in 28 deliveries.

Zalmi’s last-match hero Aamer Jamal then finally handed his side a much-needed breakthrough when he hit back at Tahir soon after the latter amassed his maiden half-century.

Tahir remained the top-scorer for the Qalandars with an anchoring 42-ball 54, laced up with seven boundaries and two sixes.

Billings and Sikandar Raza made sure to maintain Qalandars’ march towards victory with vital cameos before David Wiese (9*) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (12*) steered their side over the line.

Wicketkeeper batter Billings remained the notable run-getter for the Qalandars with his 21-ball 28, featuring three boundaries, followed by Sikandar, who scored 23 off 14 with the help of as many boundaries.

Azmatullah Omarzai led the bowling attack for the Zalmi with 2/31 while Salman Irshad, Aamer and Wahab Riaz struck out a batter each.

Opting to bat first, Zalmi managed to raise a commendable total of 171/5 on the board at the back of a brilliant knock by their wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris.

Earlier, the visitors were off to an unwanted start as Zalmi lost their young batting sensation Saim Ayub (9) cheaply in the second over at a combined total of just 15.

Following an early setback, Zalmi’s skipper Babar Azam and Haris settled things down for their side as the pair added 89 runs amid the second-wicket partnership.

The duo had put Zalmi in command at 102/1 in 11 overs before Rashid Khan handed Qalandars a much-needed breakthrough as he trapped Babar leg before wicket.

Babar scored 42 off 36 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries.

The Zalmi then dealt with another blow in the same bowler as Rashid Khan got rid of Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a duck.

Haris, however, continued his domination over the Qalandars’ bowlers and put on a vital 49-run partnership with Bhanuka Rajapaksa before Shaheen finally dismissed him on the last delivery of his spell.

He top-scored for Zalmi with a 54-ball 85, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes.

Following Haris’s departure, Rajapaksa’s cameo made sure Zalmi finished with a par score in the second eliminator. He remained unbeaten with 25 in 18 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Rashid and Zaman Khan led the Qalandars’ bowling attack; taking two wickets each while Shaheen made one scalp.

LAHORE: Right-arm pacer Shahnawaz Dahani has recovered from his injury and rejoined Multan Sultans’ squad ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight final, scheduled on March 18.

According to the details, the Sultans got a major relief ahead of the all-important final as their leading pacer Dahani rejoined the squad on Thursday.

Taking to Twitter, Dahani expressed his pleasure in rejoining the squad and thanked his franchise for taking care of him during his recovery from the injury.

“Alhamdullilah! I am very happy to be back with Multan Sultans & my team-mates. Thank you Haider Azhar bhai for taking care of me like a brother during all this process of recovery. And thank you all for lovely welcome,” he wrote.

Alhamdullilah! I am very happy to be back with @MultanSultans & my team-mates. Thank you @HaiderAzhar bhai for taking care of me like a brother during all this process of recovery. And thank you all for lovely welcome♥️🙏🤙.#SultanAaGaya. #MultanSultans https://t.co/jkPQrZGDL0

— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) March 17, 2023

 

Dahani fractured his right-hand index finger after he was hit by a shot from Sikandar Raza, amid his side’s opening match against Lahore Qalandars.

It is pertinent to mention that Dahani’s Sultans qualified for the PSL 8 final with a dominating 86-run victory over defending champions Lahore Qalandars.

The former champions now either take Qalandars or Peshawar Zalmi in the final, which has been rescheduled to Saturday (March 18).

READ: Former Australia Test captain Paine retires from cricket

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss and elected to bat first against home side Lahore Qalandars in the second eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight on Friday.

PLAYING XIs

Both sides make one change to their Playing XI as Ahsan Bhatti replaces Hussain Talat in the Qalandars lineup, while Bhanuka Rajapaksa comes in for James Neesham in Zalmi’s eleven.

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Ahsan Bhatti, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Haseebullah Khan, Aamer Jamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Salman Irshad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wahab Riaz.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 17, Peshawar Zalmi 10, Lahore Qalandars 7

KARACHI: Pakistan’s stand-in captain for the upcoming three T20Is against Afghanistan, Shadab Khan, has voiced his reverence to all-format skipper Babar Azam, calling himself a “Wazir”(minister) who represents the King in his absence. 

Speaking at a post-match press conference on Thursday after his side Islamabad United lost to Peshawar Zalmi in the first eliminator of the Pakistan Super League season 8, Shadab said Babar was rested and since he was not there his minister would represent the monarch in his place.

“He is not former but our current captain” replied Shadab when a journalist called Babar, ‘former captain’.

“He is resting and since I am his Wazir, I will be in charge while he is not there” he added.

Talking about his team’s defeat in the knockout game of the tournament, Shadab said although they made a good comeback in the middle overs, the damage had already been done in the first 10 overs.

“As a captain and as a player, I believe the first 10 overs cost us the match” he expressed.

“Although we made a good comeback in the last 10 and restricted them, credit goes to their bowlers especially Aamer Jamal and Salman Irshad the way they bowled.”

“Babar has a vast captaincy experience in T20s, he made some good bowling changes in the latter half of our innings,” he added

“We lost back-to-back wickets after 10 overs and as a team, we could not put out our best”

Commenting on the bilateral T20I series against Afghanistan later this month in Sharjah, Pakistan’s stand-in captain for the forthcoming task hoped that people would see exciting cricket since he is leading a young and fresh-look team.

“It’s a good opportunity for the young players to prove themselves. In fact, it is also a chance for us as well to test our bench strength” Shadab said

He added that the Green Shirts had to play fearless but smart cricket, saying, “in modern-day cricket, you have to be both, fearless and smart,

“Because when you play fearlessly, there are more chances of failure. But when you are smart plus fearless, your success ratio increases” he concluded.

READ: Babar Azam becomes fastest to 9000 T20 runs

 

LAHORE: Pakistan all-format and Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam on Thursday, added another feather to his cap as he became the fastest batter to score 9000 runs in T20 cricket.

Babar, who scored a 39-ball 64 amid Zalmi’s encounter against Islamabad United in the first eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight, surpassed T20 great Chris Gayle to become the fastest to 9000 runs in T20s.

The right-handed batter achieved the milestone in just 245 innings, four innings fewer than the previous record held by Gayle, who took 249 innings.

Meanwhile, India’s superstar Virat Kohli is third on the list as he reached the landmark in 271 innings, followed by Australia’s David Warner (273) and Aaron Finch (281).

Notably, Babar is the second Pakistani batter to complete 9000 T20 runs after Shoaib Malik, who has thus far scored 12528 runs in the shortest format.

Babar’s brisk half-century scripted a flying start to Zalmi but United bowlers scripted an astounding comeback in the last seven overs of the first innings to restrict Zalmi to 183/8 in the first eliminator of the marquee league.

READ: United roar back to restrict Zalmi to 183/8 despite Babar’s fifty

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi’s pacers Aamer Jamal and Salman Irshad roared back to restrict Islamabad United to 171/6 in the run chase and powered their side to a scintillating 12-run victory in the first eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

Following an astonishing victory in the eliminator, Zalmi next face Lahore Qalandars in the second eliminator on Friday.

The United had an unwanted start to the run chase as the side lost their hard-hitting opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) cheaply for just 13 runs in the second over.

Following an early setback, Sohaib Maqsood joined hands with Alex Hales and anchored the run chase with a sensational 115-run partnership for the second wicket with both scoring half-centuries.

It was all going United’s way until the first 14 overs as Aamer handed Zalmi a much-needed breakthrough on the first delivery of the 15th as he castled Maqsood.

The veteran right-handed batter top-scored for the United with 60 off 48 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes.

Salman then castled Azam Khan (2) in the next over and strengthened Zalmi’s comeback into the game.

Aamer then struck again in the next over to claim the crucial wicket of Hales and pushed the United to the backfoot as they slipped to 137/4 in the 17th over.

The United then kept losing wickets at an alarming rate which also halted the flow of runs for the two-time champions as Zalmi managed to edge them by 12 runs despite Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 26 off 12.

Aamer and Salman led the bowling attack for Zalmi with two wickets each, while Azmatullah Omarzai made one scalp.

Put into bat first in an all-important clash against United, Zalmi were off to a flying start; courtesy of a brilliant opening partnership between Babar and Saim Ayub.

The pair charged the United bowlers right from the start and put them under immense pressure.

United were deteriorating against the baton charge led by Babar with Saim also supporting. However, Mohammad Wasim Jr struck in the fifth over of the innings to draw the first success for his side as he dismissed Saim, who scored 23 off 16 with the help of five boundaries.

Babar then joined hands with Haseebullah Khan, who was promoted ahead of wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris and maintained his side’s momentum with a valiant 36-run partnership.

The pair added 36 runs in just 24 balls before Shadab Khan broke the budding partnership by getting young Haseebullah stumped in the ninth over. He scored an 11-ball 15.

Babar then put on yet another vital partnership for his side as he, alongside Haris put on a 41-run partnership and made sure to score at a decent pace before Shadab trapped him plumb in front to trigger United’s comeback into the game.

Babar top-scored for Zalmi with 64 off just 39 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries.

After Babar’s dismissal, Zalmi were 137/3 in 13 overs and they could only add 46 runs in the last seven overs at the expense of five wickets with Haris also falling short in the collapse.

The wicketkeeper batter scored a 17-ball 34, which featured three boundaries and two sixes.

Shadab led the bowling attack for the United with 2/40 while Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Fazalhaq Farooqi struck out a batter each.