Tag: PSL 8

KARACHI: Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim told Sharjeel Khan and Haider Ali, who were left out of the team during Sunday’s clash against Multan Sultans, not to lose hope and remain prepared for the opportunity that may come at any time in the Pakistan Super League season 8 remainder.

Karachi Kings sealed a sensational 66-run win against Sultans in their final home game yesterday to avenge their earlier loss to the side on the latter’s home soil.

Following their sensational win, skipper Imad delivered a dressing room speech in which he congratulated his team for the amazing victory, and also lifted the confidence of the dispirited players in the squad.

“Please do not give up” he requested Haider and Sharjeel. “The team might need you at any moment so keep practising,” he added.

He also thanked young pacer Mohammad Musa for his efforts in the game despite not bowling a single over on a spin-friendly surface.

“I still believe this is a champion side,” said the skipper in his post-match address, adding “Amir is going to be back (in the team) so there will be a lot of players who will not play so thank you so much for your support”

Exclusive post match scenes from the Kings’ camp 💙❤️#KingsSquad | #MSvKK | #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/TFFhVc4QQM

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 26, 2023

Dynamic opener Sharjeel was sidelined after the first three fixtures while uncapped Tayyab Tahir was given an opportunity in the side in place of Haider in the last game.

Tayyab proved his inclusion right with an astounding half-century on a tricky surface that saw Karachi Kings’ spinners dominating the Sultans’ batting lineup in the latter half of the game.

It is pertinent to mention here that the 2020 PSL Champions Kings will play Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi in their next encounter in Rawalpindi on March 1.

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LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique struck blistering half-centuries to power Lahore Qalandars to post the third-highest Pakistan Super League (PSL) total before Shaheen Shah Afridi’s five-wicket haul propelled the defending champions to a 40-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi.

Set to chase a mammoth 242, Zalmi fell 40 runs short of pulling the astounding victory despite blistering half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Qalandars’ skipper dented Zalmi’s march in pursuit of the biggest total of the ongoing season as he castled Zalmi’s key batters Mohammad Haris (0) and Babar Azam (7) in his successive first two overs.

Following the slump, young batting sensation Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore kept the game alive with their magnificent third-wicket partnership as they added 91 runs off just 44 deliveries.

Kohler-Cadmore was on song amid his brilliant knock as he struck boundaries at will on his way to a brisk 55 off 23 deliveries before Haris Rauf struck in the 11th over to provide a much-needed breakthrough to the Qalandars.

The right-handed batter remained the top-scorer for Zalmi.

Saim looked to carry on his domination over the Qalandars’ bowlers after Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal as he soon brought up his second PSL 8 half-century but fell victim to Rashid Khan soon after amassing the milestone.

He scored 51 off 34 balls, laced up with seven boundaries and two sixes.

Following his dismissal, Zalmi began to lose wickets at regular intervals which consequently resulted in the visitors being restricted to 201/9 after brief cameos from Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) and Rovman Powell (20).

Shaheen led the bowling attack for his side with 5/40 while Zaman Khan followed with 2/28. Haris and Rashid, on the other hand, picked one wicket apiece.

Opting to bat first, the Qalandars piled a mammoth 241/3 in their quota of 20 overs at the back of scintillating knocks by Fakhar and Abdullah.

Earlier, the home side had a scratchy start as Wahab Riaz castled young opener Tahir Baig (5) to draw the first breakthrough for the Zalmi.

Following an early setback, Fakhar and Abdullah settled things down as they took the Qalandars to 36/1 in the powerplay before launching a ruthless counterattack on the Zalmi bowlers.

The duo turned things around for the home side with belligerent hitting with Abdullah leading the charge of the stand. The right-handed batter smashed five boundaries and as many sixes amid his magnificent knock before Wahab struck again in the 13th over for Zalmi.

Abdullah scored a quickfire 75 off 41 deliveries and left the Qalandars in complete command as the side were 127/2 in 13 overs.

Following Abdullah’s dismissal, Fakhar switched gears and took Zalmi bowlers to the cleaners with belligerent hitting but fell short of his well-deserved century by just four runs as he fell to Rovman Powell in the 17th over.

Fakhar top-scored for the Qalandars with 96 off just 45 balls, hitting three boundaries and 10 sixes.

Wahab led the bowling attack for the Zalmi with two wickets but was expensive as he leaked 45 runs in his four overs, while Powell could make one scalp.

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Sunday provided a much-anticipated update regarding the future of the Lahore and Rawalpindi leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight.

Taking to Twitter, Sethi revealed that the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has agreed to share the cost of lighting routes during PSL 8 matches here.

“Good news: CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi Saheb has been kind enough to agree to share cost of lighting routes during PSL matches in Lahore,” wrote Sethi.

“HBL PSL8 matches in Lahore and Pindi shall continue as scheduled,” he added.

Good news: CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi Saheb has been kind enough to agree to share cost of lighting routes during PSL matches in Lahore. HBl PSL8 matches in Lahore and Pindi shall continue as scheduled.

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 26, 2023

 

A deadlock emerged between the PCB and the caretaker Punjab government over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight’s Lahore and Rawalpindi leg security expenditures.

The Punjab government demanded PCB pay off PKR 500m to make security arrangements for the second leg of the ongoing extravaganza. At the same time, the cricket board was adamant about not paying the stipulated sum.

Following the deadlock, the PCB and all six franchises held several meetings to discuss different way forwards which included shifting the entire second leg to Karachi.

READ: Spinners dominate as Karachi Kings avenge Sultans in second PSL clash

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and elected to bat first against Peshawar Zalmi in the 15th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight on the double-header Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Sam Billings (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jimmy Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Saad Masood, Arshad Iqbal, Salman Irshad

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 15, Peshawar Zalmi 9, Lahore Qalandars 6

KARACHI: Karachi Kings unleashed a ferocious spin attack to make a comeback in the Pakistan Super League season 8 as they sealed a dominant 66-run win over table-toppers Multan Sultans on Sunday. 

Tayyab Tahir smashed an impressive fifty on his debut to steer Kings to a respectable 168-run target before spinners wreaked havoc on the visitors’ batting line to bundle out Sultans on a paltry 101.

Tabraiz Shamsi and veteran Shoaib Malik shared six wickets between them while skipper Imad Wasim grabbed two wickets to tighten his side’s grip on the game.

Wrist spinner Shamsi, who played his first game of the season, proved what he is capable of when he ran through the Sultans’ middle order, taking the crucial wickets of David Miller, Khishdil Shah and Usama Mir.

42-year-old Malik, on the other hand, had a phenomenal outing with the ball as he unsettled the Sultans’ batting mainstays Rillee Rossouw and Mohammad Rizwan and later dismissed Abbas Afridi to send packing the Sultans.

Earlier Tahir made 65 runs from 46 balls and stitched a valiant 107-run partnership with Matthew Wade to take the Kings to 167/3 in the 20 overs after they were put into bat.

Wade, on the other hand, held the crease firmly with a 47-ball 46 to anchor the innings with Tahir following the early dismissal of danger-man James Vince, who smacked 27 from 12, off Anwar Ali in the 4th over.

Tahir hit eight scintillating boundaries and a maximum during his maiden PSL knock and sailed the Kings to 141 in the 17th over before Ihsanullah plumbed him lbw.

Wade soon followed the suit and fell prey to the right arm quick in his next over while attempting his signature shot but missed the ball completely.

Skipper Imad played a sweet cameo of 14 from 6 balls, squeezing 12 from the last 4 balls of the innings to gain back some momentum which had shifted into Sultans’ favour in the last five overs of the first innings.

Sultans, in reply, showed a promising start with openers Shan Masood and Rizwan raising 41 runs before seamer Akif Javed gave the home side their first breakthrough in the 5th over, dismissing the former on 25.

Multan lost control of the chase after the first dismissal with none of their batters making it into the 30s.

Rizwan top-scored for the side with a scratchy knock of 29 from 25 balls before Malik got rid of him in the 11th over with a superb take by Tahir at the point.

Rizwan’s dismissal triggered a match-defining collapse as the Sultans’ batters seemed hapless against an unstoppable Kings’ bowling attack and the visitors, consequently bundled out for a meagre 101 in the 17th over after minor retaliation from Usama Mir (10) and Anwar Ali (12).

For his sensational show with the ball, South African spinner Shamsi was adjudged the player of the match in his maiden PSL match.

KARACHI: Karachi Kings unleashed a ferocious spin attack to make a comeback in the Pakistan Super League season 8 as they sealed a dominant 66-run win over table-toppers Multan Sultans on Sunday.

MS 101/10 (16.3 Overs)

Malik comes to bowl his last

MS 101/9 (16 Overs)

Akif comes back

MS 99/8 (15 Overs)

Imad comes to bowl his last

MS 95/6 (14 Overs)

Shamsi to bowl his last

MS 88/5 (13 Overs)

Imad comes back

MS 76/5 (12 Overs)

Shamsi to bowl again

MS 72/4 (11 Overs)

Malik comes again

MS 70/3 (10 Overs)

Shamsi comes again

MS 68/2 (9 Overs)

Malik continues

MS 66/2 (8 Overs)

Tabraiz Shamsi comes into the attack

MS 61/2 (7 Overs)

Shoaib Malik comes in

MS 49/1 (6 Overs)

Yamin comes again

MS 41/1 (5 Overs)

Akif Javed comes into the attack

MS 35/0 (4 Overs)

Yamin continues

MS 25/0 (3 Overs)

Imad continues

MS 15/0 (2 Overs)

Aamer Yamin comes to bowl from the other end

MS 8/1 (1 Over)

Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan come out to bat for the Sultans. Imad Wasim to bowl the first over.

KARACHI KINGS vs MULTAN SULTANS (2nd INNINGS)

KARACHI: Tayyab Tahir smashed an impressive fifty on his Pakistan Super League (PSL) debut to help Karachi Kings set a respectable 168-run target against Multan Sultans in the 14th match of the ongoing eighth edition on Sunday.

KK 167-3 (20 overs)

Abbas Afridi to bowl the final over of the innings

KK 152-3 (19 overs)

18.2: Ihsanullah sends off stump flying! Heat-seeking 151.4 kph missile that hones in on off stump

Ihasabullah bowl his final over

KK 147-2 (18 overs)

Abbas Afridi comes back

KK 141-2 (17 overs)

16.6: Full and slanted into middle and leg stump. Tahir shuffles across his stumps a touch and then plays all around a straight ball. It thuds into the pads and the umpire has no hesitation in raising his finger

Ihsanullah comes back

KK 135-1 (16 overs)

Anwar Ali replaces Usama Mir

KK 130-1 (15 overs)

Abbas Afridi comes back

KK 121-1 (14 overs)

Usama Mir to bowl his final over

KK 111-1 (13 overs)

Ihsanullah comes back

KK 103-1 (12 overs)

Usama Mir continues

KK 93-1 (11 overs)

Abbas Afridi comes into the attack

KK 86-1 (10 overs)

Usama Mir continues

KK 80-1 (9 overs)

Carlos Braithwaite replaces Hosein

KK 69-1 (8 overs)

Usama Mir comes into attack

KK 63-1 (7 overs)

Hosein comes back

KK 52-1 (6 overs)

Anwar Ali continues

KK 41-1 (5 overs)

Ihsanullah comes into the attack

KK 37-1 (4 overs)

3.1: James Vince gone! He charges down the charges, the ball went high but landed back into the fielder’s hand

Anwar Ali continues

KK 32-0 (3 overs)

Akeal Hosein continues

KK 18-0 (2 overs)

Anwar Ali to bowl from other end

KK 11-0 (1 over)

Matthew Wade and James Vince come out to bat. Akeal Hosein to open the attack

KARACHI KINGS vs MULTAN SULTANS (1st INNINGS)

KARACHI: Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to bowl first against Karachi Kings in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League season 8.

Playing XIs: 

Karachi Kings: James Vince, Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim (c), Matthew Wade, Ben Cutting, Irfanullah Niazi, Aamer Yamin, Akif Javed, Musa Khan, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Khushdil Shah, Carlos Braithwaite, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Akeal Hossein, Anwar Ali

KARACHI: Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to bowl first against Karachi Kings in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League season 8.

Playing XIs: 

Karachi Kings: James Vince, Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim (c), Matthew Wade, Ben Cutting, Irfanullah Niazi, Aamer Yamin, Akif Javed, Musa Khan, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Khushdil Shah, Carlos Braithwaite, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Akeal Hossein, Anwar Ali

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Afridi has revealed his plans to get the crucial wicket of Babar Azam in his side’s first home game in the Pakistan Super League season 8 against Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday. 

Pace spearhead Shaheen said he would bowl his signature yorker deliveries to the  Peshawar Zalmi captain and try to get an early breakthrough for the side in his face-off against Babar.

“Babar is a world-class player and he is everyone’s favourite. I mentioned this earlier as well, I enjoy bowling him in the nets,” he said in a scheduled press conference in Lahore on Saturday.

“Babar and Rizwan are the players whom I enjoy bowling to, but it’s a challenge too. It’s not easy. Even coaches are giving an example of Babar’s cover drive while teaching. Of course, we will plan for him and do well” he said

When asked if he had his yorkers loaded for the Peshawar Zalmi captain, Shaheen replied in affirmation and said: “As a player and a captain, I will try to give my team an early breakthrough. This is what I try to do, not only in franchise cricket but in the Pakistan team too. You will get to see a good competition,”

Qalandars’ captain, however, debunked the perception that his side was reliant solely on Harry Brook in the batting and with his absence it turned fragile.

“We already knew that Brook won’t be able to play this season. He is doing a great job for  England in New Zealand” he said  ”

“I don’t think we are weak in any department. We scored 190+ in the last game. Of course, it’s cricket, you have to improve a lot of things.

When asked why Abdullah Shafique was yet not given a chance despite being an integral part of the Qalandars’ PSL winning team in PSL 7, Shaheen disclosed he was not feeling well and might get a chance keeping the team combination in consideration.

“I personally like him [Abdullah Shafique]. He is the second classy batter after Babar Azam. He wasn’t feeling well due to flu but he is feeling better now and batting in the nets. Our opening partnership is doing well, we will look at our combination before making a decision [about his inclusion in the squad],” he concluded.

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KARACHI: The former champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Karachi Kings held a training session ahead of their second clash with table-toppers Multan Sultans in the ongoing eighth edition.

According to the details, all-squad members partook in the Kings’ training session, under the supervision of head coach Johan Botha.

Meanwhile, batting coach Ravi Bopara and assistant coach Michael Smith were also present in the Kings’ training session.

The details further suggest that the players engaged in rigorous drills and practised in the nets.

Back at the training ✊#YehHaiKarachi | #KingsSquad | #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/tj2icc6Dtm

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 25, 2023

 

Kings’ ace pacer Mohammad Amir also joined the team’s training session after missing his side’s previous clash with the Sultans due to an injury.

On the other hand, table-toppers Sultans also held a practice session here at National Bank Cricket Arena as the two sides will lock horns tomorrow.

It is pertinent to mention that Sultans lead the PSL 8 standings with eight points in five matches, while the Kings are in fifth place with two points in as many matches.

READ: Azam Khan credits his father Moin Khan for dealing with criticism 

KARACHI: Islamabad United’s Azam Khan coined his father Moin Khan an inspiration for backing him despite all the odds following his match-winning knock against Quetta Gladiators in the 13th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

Azam stole the limelight with his astounding 97-run knock that fired the United to post a mammoth 220/6 against his former PSL franchise Gladiators.

The right-handed batter baton charged the Gladiators’ bowlers as he smashed them all over the park amid his magnificent knock that featured eight boundaries and nine gigantic sixes.

The young wicketkeeper batter has often been at the receiving end of criticism for his poor fitness despite his power-hitting abilities.

Meanwhile, following his match-winning knock, Azam praised his father Moin, the head coach of the Gladiators for backing him despite all the odds and making him mentally strong to face the criticism.

“When I met him [Moin] after the match, he praised my innings and asked me to continue performing,” Azam.

“My father is my biggest inspiration. He made me mentally so strong and always backed me to perform well despite all the odds. He already told me about the criticism and helped me fight against it. I hope I will keep on making him proud,” he added.

Azam then went on to highlight the importance of power-hitting and strike rate in T20s, stating that it is essential for a batter who plays down the order.

“Strike rate matters a lot in T20 cricket. It is my style of play and I really enjoy it,” said Azam.

“At the position where I bat, you get very limited time to set. In such a case, you have to be ready for hitting the ball hard,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that Azam’s United closed in with table-toppers Multan Sultans following their back-to-back triumph in the ongoing extravaganza.

The two-time champions tightened their grip on the second spot with six points in four matches behind the Sultans, who lead the standings with eight points in five matches.

READ: ‘Disappointed’ Gul optimistic for Gladiators comeback