ABU DHABI: Quetta Gladiators’ bowlers did their job by bowling out Multan Sultans for 111 in reply to the 138-runs target to win the practice match by 26 runs.
While batting first, Gladiators’ batting line flopped to score runs. Openers Usman Khan and Faf Du Plessis opened the inning for Gladiators but couldn’t manage to provide a strong start to their team.
Khan scored two whilst Du Plessis made 5, bringing in Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azam Khan at the crease. They both too weren’t able to score runs and got out after scoring 5 and 10 runs respectively.
Jake Weatherald (18) and Jack Wildermuth (20) helped Gladiators post 137-10 in 20 overs.
Mohammad Umar bagged three wickets while Sohail Khan, Imran Khan Sr, Usman Qadir, Waseem Mohammad, and Imran Tahir bagged a wicket each.
In reply, Sultans lost openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sohaib Maqsood for naught. Johnson Charles (33) rescued his team and took them to 46-2 before falling to Naseem Shah. Shimron Hetmyer scored 23 runs off 24 balls with the help of a boundary and six.
In the end, Khushdil Shah 16 off seven deliveries spread over two sixes but couldn’t able to win the match for his team.
Naseem, Zahid Mahmood, and Khurram Shahzad picked up two wickets each for Gladiators. Mohammad Nawaz and Jack Wildermuth shared a wicket apiece.
Tag: PSL 6
‘A good challenge’ Guptill excited to face Shaheen, Hasan
Abu Dhabi: New Zealand’s Martin Guptill is looking forward to make a mark ahead of his first stint in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six with the defending champions Karachi Kings.
The 34-year-old Guptill is excited to face pacers, who have been part of the Pakistan side. “I’ve been lucky enough to face international guys while playing against Pakistan. It would be nice to come up again. The likes of Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, it’s gonna be a great challenge and I am looking forward to it,” he told reporters in a virtual presser on Monday.
Guptill, who plays as an opener for Kiwis, has no issues lower down the order. Remember, Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam are opening the innings for Kings since 2020.
“Wherever I bat in the order, I am here to do the job that is to score runs. I’ll try to do that to the best of my ability,” he added.
On the other hand, Guptill also revealed his favorite Pakistani batters. “Off-late, Babar but to who I watch growing up are Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. They were fantastic to watch and I was lucky enough to play against both of them towards the end of their career,” he maintained.
It must be noted that Karachi Kings are at the top of the points table with six points. They will resume their PSL 6 campaign against Multan Sultans on June 10.
Read: Guptill admires Babar, looks forward to bat with him
UAE visas issued to four players for PSL 6
Lahore: Four cricketers on Monday were issued visas to travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the remaining matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.
Umar Amin, Hammad Azam, Khalid Usman and Asif Afridi received visas. Arrangements are being made to depart four cricketers to Abu Dhabi on the first available flight.
Meanwhile, only one cricketer Imran Randhawa’s visa has not been issued yet. As soon as the visa is issued, the departure of Imran Randha to Abu Dhabi will also be finalized.
It must be noted that a player has to undergo mandatory seven-day quarantine after arriving in Abu Dhabi while PSL 6 will resume from June 9 at Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Read: Match officials for PSL 6 remainder confirmed
Ben Dunk injured during practice, receives seven stitches
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
Match officials for PSL 6 remainder confirmed
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced match officials for the remaining 20 matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six which will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi from Wednesday, 9 June to Thursday, 24 June.
Pakistan’s senior-most umpire Aleem Dar who is also one of the most distinguished members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires will join six members of the PCB Elite Panel of Umpires for the Abu Dhabi leg.
The six local umpires are Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob (PCB Umpire of 2020), Faisal Khan Afridi, Rashid Riaz, Shozab Raza and Zameer Haider.
PCB match referee elite panelists Ali Naqvi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Javed Malik and Muhammad Anees will lead the playing control teams in Abu Dhabi.
The first match of the Abu Dhabi-leg between Lahore Qalandars and the 2016 and 2018 champions Islamabad United will be umpired by Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz, while Shozab Raza will be the third umpire and Faisal Afridi, the fourth umpire. Muhammad Anees will be the match referee.
The June 24 final will be umpired by Aleem and Ahsan with Asif the third umpire. Rashid will be the fourth umpire while Anees will be the match referee.
Umpires and match referees appointments
9 June – Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Shozab Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
10 June – Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings. Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Ali Naqvi (match referee); Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars. Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Ali Naqvi match referee
11 June – Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators. Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee)
12 June – Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi. Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
13 June – Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars. Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee); Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)
14 June – Islamabad United v Karachi Kings. Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Shozab Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Ali Naqvi (match referee)
15 June – Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Shozab Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee); Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings. Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
16 June – Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators. Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)
17 June – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi. Shozab Raza and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee); Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars. Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
18 June – Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars. Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee)
19 June – Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings. Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee); Multan Sultans v Islamabad United. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Zameer Haider (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee)
21 June – Qualifier (1 v 2). Ahsan Raza and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee); Eliminator 1 (3 v 4). Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza (on-field umpire), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire), Javed Malik (match referee)
22 June – Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1). Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
24 June – Final. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Muhammad Anees (match referee)
Five cricketers still await UAE visas for PSL 6
Karachi: Five cricketers are still waiting for UAE visas to participate in the remaining matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.
According to Daily Jang citing sources, Umar Amin, Imran Randhawa and Asif Afridi are in Lahore while Hammad Azam and Khalid Usman are in England.
Sources further revealed that Hammad Azam and Khalid Usman terminated their club contracts in England for PSL 6.
It must be noted that a player has to undergo mandatory seven-day quarantine after arriving in Abu Dhabi while PSL 6 will resume from June 9 at Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Also read: PSL 6: Preparations at Sheikh Zayed Stadium are in full swing
‘Wasim Bhai is legend, legends like him do not born daily’ Amir
KARACHI: Mohammad Amir highly praised Wasim Akram’s cricket mindset and said the former prolific pacer guides youngsters according to modern-day cricket.
In an exclusive interview with ARY Sports, Amir said Akram never tried to be a coach because his mindset towards the game is too positive.
“To be honest, he never tried to be a coach. He always tells you things with a positive mindset. Whenever you go to him, even when I go to him, he guides me according to what modern-day cricket demands,” the pacer praised his idol.
“That’s why I believe, Wasim Bhai is a legend. And, legends like him do not born daily. He is accurate with cricket knowledge and techniques,” he remarked.
READ: ‘PSL 6 in UAE will not affect international cricket in Pakistan’ PCB’s CEO
Babar Azam
Amir believes that Babar Azam hasn’t changed even after getting the national team’s captaincy in all three formats. “Babar is not the one who changes after getting captaincy. We are playing together for long time and we have a good understanding together. We learn from each other whenever we get time,” he shared.
To a query about his captaincy, Amir said he needs some time to prove himself as a captain. “See, he has got an additional responsibility as a captain. Now, he is supposed to look after himself, his batting, and then captaincy, it’s not easy at all. You need to give him some time, saying anything about his captaincy at this moment would be too early I guess,” he opined.
PSL 6
Amir praised Pakistan Super League (PSL) management and franchises for putting things into the right place for completion of the sixth edition. “It will be a big success for PSL management and all franchisees to complete the remaining edition of the league. I know a lot of efforts were required to make this happen, credit goes to all people involved in it,” he said.
“As far as Karachi Kings is concerned, so we are confident to defend our title. It is tough to play cricket in quarantine but we have to deal with it now. Here in Abu Dhabi, the weather is hot, it won’t be easy to go out and play after spending 10 days in quarantine in AC rooms. But, being professionals, we will try to adjust in the environment as soon as possible,” he concluded.
ALSO READ: ‘PSL 6’s resumption wasn’t possible except in June this year’ Ehsan Mani
‘I am a fan of Babar, will try to learn from him’ Afghanistan’s Najib
KARACHI: Afghanistan’s left-handed batsman Najibullah Zadran keenly follows Babar Azam and looking forward to learning from one of the current greatest batsmen in the world.
In an exclusive interview with ARY News, Zadran said he is excited to be a part of Karachi Kings which features players like Babar, Imad Wasim, and Martin Guptill.
“I am too excited to be playing the PSL for the very first time. I have heard about Karachi Kings’ fan following and I look forward to playing for them,” he said.
“Babar is my favorite player and I have been following him for a long. It will be an opportunity for me to learn from him as much as I can in Karachi Kings,” he added.
The 28-years-old cricketer shared that Babar has taken the place of Shahid Khan Afridi as one of the most followed cricketers in Afghanistan. “Earlier, it was Shahid Afridi, who was followed mostly in Pakistan. But, today everyone follows Babar, and people who play cricket, want to be like him,” he revealed.
The young cricketer also disclosed that Wasim Akram used to back him a lot during a cricket league. “I worked with Wasim Bhai for two years in a league. He liked my batting a lot and often used to share some tips with me,” he said.
“Inshallah, in the coaching of Wasim Bhai and Herschelle Gibbs, we will try to defend our title,” he concluded.
READ: Wasim tells Qasim ‘Tips to become successful captain’
‘PSL 6 in UAE will not affect international cricket in Pakistan’ PCB’s CEO
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s CEO Wasim Khan believes that completion of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will not affect the resumption of cricket in Pakistan.
In an interview, PCB’s CEO said completion of PSL 6 was very important for them and they made immense efforts to reschedule it.
“It was unethical to host PSL 6 in Pakistan amid COVID-19 surge in the country. NCOC also suggested to shift the matches somewhere else. I assure you that completion of PSL 6 in Abu Dhabi will not affect international cricket in Pakistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khan said the Pakistan team will be busy in a mega eight-month-long home season during which big teams will tour the country. “England, West Indies, Australia and New Zealand will tour Pakistan in next eight months. Plan for New Zealand’s tour to Pakistan will be shared soon,” he said.
It must be noted here that England has confirmed their tour to Pakistan for two T20Is in October this year before T20 World Cup. They will come and play two T20Is on October 14 and 15.
READ: ‘PSL 6’s resumption wasn’t possible except in June this year’ Ehsan Mani
‘PSL 6’s resumption wasn’t possible except in June this year’ Ehsan Mani
Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s chairman Ehsan Mani said that June was the only window available this year for completion of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mani said CEO Wasim Khan and his team have made a lot of efforts to make PSL 6’s completion possible.
“PSL 6’s resumption wasn’t possible except June this year. We will not have any other window for the rest of the year. So, we mutually decided to complete the league in this time period,” he said.
“Wasim and his team made a lot of efforts to revive this league. Still, a long way to go for completion of the league,” he added.
It must be noted here that PCB shifted the remaining PSL 6 to Abu Dhabi after they failed to get govt’s permission to conduct the event in Karachi. The cricket board faced plenty of hurdles to finalize the plan to complete the event.
Finally, on June 3, the revised schedule was announced after all differences were sorted out with intervention of the federal and Sindh government.