Tag: PSL 9

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Islamabad United in the eighth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

PLAYING XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel (vc), Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford, Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.

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Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hunain Shah, Naseem Shah, Rumman Raees.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 17, Islamabad United 9, Quetta Gladiators 8

READ: Naveen-ul-Haq set to join Peshawar Zalmi for PSL 9

Afghanistan’s star pace bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has confirmed that he will soon join the Peshawar Zalmi squad for the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

Naveen-ul-Haq took to his Instagram story and shared an update about his participation in PSL 9.

His presence will definitely boost the pace attack of Peshawar Zalmi, who are currently at the bottom of the points table with two losses in two games.

They conceded 206 runs against Quetta Gladiators in their opening game of PSL 9 and failed to chase the total, losing by 16 runs.

In the next game, they were bowled out at a meagre 154 against Karachi Kings, who successfully chased the total with 19 balls to spare.

Peshawar Zalmi started the defence of the paltry total on a good note as Luke Wood removed Karachi Kings’ captain Shan Masood with 20 runs on the board.

Mohammad Akhlaq played a quick cameo of 24 from 13 balls that featured three boundaries and two sixes before Wood struck again to send him back.

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With the scoreboard reading 40-2, Shoaib Malik and James Vince constructed an anchoring 51-run stand from 46 balls to put the Kings back on track.

Malik scored run-a-ball 29 before he came down the track to attempt an ambitious loft to Waqar Salamkheil, only to get stumped.

Kieron Pollard joined Vince and made sure to get the Zalmi out of the game with a blistering cameo of 49 runs from 21 balls, including 27 runs in one over of Salamkheil.

Pollard smashed eight boundaries, including four sixes to guide his team to victory, while Vince scored 38 off 30 with the help of three boundaries and one six.

Peshawar Zalmi will next face table-toppers Multan Sultans on February 23 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

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Veteran New Zealand batter Martin Guptill on Wednesday, joined the Islamabad United squad for the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

According to the details, Guptill came in as a replacement for UAE’s Muhammad Waseem.

The in-form UAE opener, originally slated to represent Islamabad, withdrew from the tournament due to national commitments.

Waseem will represent UAE in Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign in Dubai, beginning next week.

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Meanwhile, Martin Guptill’s inclusion is poised to add a valuable experience to the United, who had a mixed start to their PSL 9 campaign, managing to win one out of their first two fixtures.

For the unversed, Guptill represented Quetta Gladiators in the previous edition of the PSL and finished as the ninth-highest run-scorer, amassing 310 runs at a brilliant average of 38.75 and a strike rate of over 150.

The right-handed batter also registered a century when he smashed 117 off 67 deliveries with the help of 12 boundaries and five sixes, powering his then side to a much-needed victory.

Islamabad United’s PSL 9 squad

Shadab Khan (c), Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim, Azam Khan (both Diamond), Faheem Ashraf (Brand Ambassador), Alex Hales, Colin Munro (all Gold), Rumman Raees (Silver), Tymal Mills, Matthew Forde, Salman Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Jordan Cox, Haider Ali, Obed McCoy, Martin Guptill.

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Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed commented on the potency of left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir to take back his retirement from international cricket.

Sarfaraz acknowledged the value Amir brings to T20 cricket in a recent interview with a local news outlet and expressed confidence in the latter’s abilities.

“The inclusion of Mohammad Amir has made a big difference. He has been bowling really well and has a lot of experience of playing T20 cricket,” Sarfaraz said.

“I have always told Amir that he can still play for Pakistan since he has a lot to offer. He can be useful for Pakistan but it depends on Amir how he sees his future with the national team,” he further added.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed then went on to comment on Quetta Gladiators’ dream start to the PSL 9 campaign but refrained from making an optimistic claim.

“It is too early to say anything but we have a good team combination and, if we continue playing like this, the team will get good results,” Sarfaraz said.

He further broke the silence on Rilee Rossouw replacing him as Quetta Gladiators’ captain and asserted that he is relaxed after relinquishing the role.

“I’m relaxed and enjoying the game. Rilee Rossouw is leading the side really well,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that the change in leadership has thus far, paid dividends for the Gladiators as the former champions, who failed to make it to the Playoffs since 2019, opened their PSL 9 campaign with two victories on the trot.

READ: Rassie van der Dussen propels Qalandars to 166/5 against Sultans

MULTAN: Multan Sultans clinched a five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars to extend their winning streak while the holders succumbed to their third defeat on the trot in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here on Wednesday.

Set to chase 167, the Sultans accumulated 170/5 with an over to spare, courtesy of Mohammad Rizwan’s anchoring half-century, followed by Iftikhar Ahmed’s late fireworks.

The home side had a shaky start to the pursuit as they were reduced to 15/2 in 2.5 overs, courtesy of a sensational pace bowling display from the Qalandars.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan batted sensibly and put together a one-sided partnership with Yasir Khan (8). The third-wicket stand yielded 38 runs.

Rizwan was then joined by his deputy David Willey and the duo put Sultans in command with a magnificent 75-run partnership.

Both batters appeared to have attained full control until Rizwan misfired a slog sweep off Zaman Khan and finally perished in the 17th over.

He remained the top-scorer for his side with a gutsy 82 off 59 deliveries, laced up with nine boundaries and three sixes.

Willey followed Rizwan in the next over when Shaheen Shah Afridi trapped him lbw with a toe-crushing yorker after being hit for a gigantic six. Willey remained a notable contributor with a 23-ball 25.

Later, Iftikhar Ahmed turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting and steered his side to glory with relative ease.

He smashed five boundaries and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 34 off 11 deliveries.

Shaheen and Zaman both bagged two wickets for the Qalandars while George Linde made one scalp.

The five-wicket victory strengthened Multan Sultans’ hold at the summit of the PSL 9 standings with six points in three matches while Lahore Qalandars remained at the rock bottom.

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Opting to bat first, the Qalandars registered a formidable total on the board, despite a dismal start to their innings.

The defending champions lost their in-form opener, Sahibzada Farhan (2) in the second over, bowled by Mohammad Ali, with just three runs on the board.

Following the early debacle, van der Dussen joined Fakhar Zaman in the middle and the duo, batted sensibly to launch a recovery.

They added 94 runs for the second wicket in just 11 overs until van der Dussen fell victim to Usama Mir, briefly after amassing his half-century.

He remained the top-scorer for the Qalandars with a 37-ball 54, smashing four boundaries and two sixes.

Fakhar then put together a brief partnership with Jahandad Khan, before finally perishing in the 16th over.

He scored 41 off 36 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and two sixes.

Later, all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Jahandad added valuable runs at the backend with brief cameos.

Raza scored 23 off 16 deliveries with the help of four boundaries while Jahandad made a nine-ball 16 which featured a six.

Carlos Brathwaite then gave a late push to the Qalandars’ total with a brisk 15. His eight-ball knock featured one boundary and a six.

Right-arm pacer Mohammad Ali, once again, led the bowling charge for Multan Sultans in PSL 9, picking up two wickets while Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir could take one apiece.

READ: Babar Azam becomes fastest to 10000 T20 runs

LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ pacer Hasan Ali hailed Shoaib Malik for providing positive momentum to the team, leading them to a comfortable victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the sixth match of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

Hasan, while speaking at the post-match press conference after Karachi Kings’ seven-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi, opened up on the teams’ strategy of bowling slower deliveries in the early phase of the innings.

“Look, we always plan after accessing the conditions. So, as per the conditions, the change of pace was very essential and we were aware as a bowling unit that they possess such batters, who can hit big,” said Hasan.

“If you talk about Shoaib bhai, I think he gave us the momentum by taking a wicket on the first delivery. So, in T20, the early momentum gives confidence to the bowling unit and the team approach the game more dominantly,” he added.

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Hasan Ali further commented on his bowling performance for Karachi Kings, stating that he was satisfied with the way he bowled.

“My recent performances [for Pakistan] were not that good. I played well in the World Cup but in the recent Test series, could not pick many wickets.

“However, as far as PSL is concerned, I always consider it as an opportunity to prove myself. I am very satisfied with my [current] performance, there are still eight matches left and then playoffs. So, I’m confident that such performances will keep on coming.”

The right-arm pacer also opened up on his trade from Islamabad United to Karachi Kings and heaped praise on his new team’s captain Shan Masood.

“I am very happy to become a part of Karachi Kings. I still miss Roti Group, one of its members hit me for a six today.

“Shan is a brilliant player. He just got the captaincy of Pakistan and he’s getting better day by day and he’s a good man.”

Hasan Ali then went on to assert that the new-look Karachi Kings’ squad has been gelled and the fans can expect alike results from the former champions in the coming matches.

READ: Pollard’s blitz powers Karachi Kings to first win in PSL 9

MULTAN: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and opted to bat first against home side Multan Sultans in the seventh match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Azam completed his 10,000 runs in only 271 innings, while Gayle took 285 innings, followed by Indian star batter Virat Kohli, who took 299 innings to reach the milestone.

Azam reached the elusive milestone during his valiant 72-run knock amid his side’s dramatic collapse against Peshawar Zalmi.

Zalmi faced a horrible collapse courtesy of brilliant bowling by Karachi Kings and were bowled out at a meagre 154 despite being at 136-5 at one point.

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