Tag: Quetta Gladiators

Former Pakistan batter Fawad Alam has praised Quetta Gladiators’ pacer Mohammad Amir for his skill and cricketing intelligence, placing him among the best pacers Pakistan has produced after the early 2000s era.

Speaking on a private TV show after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 clash between the Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, Fawad was asked if Amir is better than Pakistan’s current crop of fast bowlers. He didn’t hesitate to put Amir in a different league.

“As far as Amir’s ability is concerned, there’s no comparison. He is one of the best and the smartest bowlers we have had [in a long time],” Fawad said.

Fawad drew parallels between Amir and some of Pakistan’s finest pacers of the past two decades.

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“After Mohammad Asif — I mean after the early 2000s when we had big names — the two premier pacers we had were Asif and then Mohammad Amir,” he explained.

According to Fawad Alam, while many bowlers have skill, Amir’s intelligence sets him apart.

“I believe after Amir, we did not get many smarter bowlers. Skill is something every player who represents Pakistan has. But intelligence — that’s rare,” he said.

Highlighting Amir’s sharp cricketing mind, Fawad pointed towards his ability to read batters, especially someone of Babar Azam’s calibre.

“Mohammad Amir knew exactly how to get Babar Azam out, and you can clearly see the pressure Babar feels when facing him,” he remarked.

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He elaborated on the mutual respect between top-level players.

“When a batter knows he’s up against a smart bowler, he’s aware that the bowler understands his weaknesses. And Amir makes full use of a batter’s shortcomings,” Fawad Alam added.

He concluded by reiterating his admiration for Amir’s bowling smarts. “The more you talk about Amir’s skill and intelligence, the less it feels like enough,” he said.

It’s worth noting that Mohammad Amir has dismissed Babar Azam twice in the tournament so far — first for a golden duck and then for just 12 runs in their latest encounter on Sunday night.

READ: Former New Zealand captain comments on strike rate criticism of Babar, Rizwan

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam lamented the poor execution in bowling and batting following the crushing defeat against Quetta Gladiators in the 17th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a challenging total of 179, Peshawar Zalmi crumbled under pressure, getting bowled out for just 114 in 15.2 overs.

Peshawar Zalmi’s chase began on a shaky note as they lost their top three batters inside the powerplay. Saim Ayub (5) was the first to be dismissed in the second over, with the score at 17.

Babar Azam (12) fell to Mohammad Amir in the third over, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore (5) was castled by Mohammad Wasim Jr., leaving Zalmi reeling at 33 in 4.3 overs.

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Mohammad Haris on the other end showed some resistance with his 16 off 17 balls, with the help of a four and a six, but he removed too before the halfway mark.

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At one stage, Zalmi were reeling at 81-7 in the 10th over before Hussain Talat’s determined innings helped them cross the 100-run mark. He remained the top scorer with 39 off 34 balls, featuring two sixes and four fours.

Eventually, the whole team was bundled out on the second ball of the 15th over, marking Peshawar Zalmi’s fourth defeat in six matches.

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While speaking in the post-match presentation, Babar Azam highlighted the shortcomings in batting and bowling while aiming to correct the mistakes for upcoming matches.

“I think we weren’t quite up to the mark in both batting and bowling,” said Babar.

“We failed to execute our plans as we should have. We’ll sit down, analyze what went wrong, and make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes moving forward,” Babar Azam concluded.

READ: PSL 10: Faheem dazzles with five-for as Quetta Gladiators crush Peshawar Zalmi

READ: PSL 10: Andries Gous hails Shadab Khan as ‘Aggressive’ captain

The iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be a key venue, hosting 13 matches, including the Eliminators and the grand final, which promises to be a spectacular event.

According to the PSL 10 schedule, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will heighten the excitement with 11 action-packed matches, including the crucial Qualifier 1 on May 13.

Meanwhile, the historic National Bank Stadium in Karachi and the vibrant Multan Cricket Stadium will each host five dynamic matches.

READ: Kane Williamson names THESE two Pakistani bowlers who impressed him most

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators secured a five-run victory against the Karachi Kings in the 15th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. 

Karachi Kings fell short of the 143-run target, finishing their innings at 137 for 8 despite a strong start.

The chase began on a shaky note with captain David Warner’s dismissal for just four runs by Mohammad Amir in the first over. However, Tim Seifert and James Vince fought back aggressively, putting pressure back on the Quetta Gladiators.

The duo formed a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, consistently finding the boundary and taking control.

But it was Quetta skipper Saud Shakeel’s over, that turned the match on his head, ending the partnership by dismissing Vince for 30 runs off 29 deliveries. The breakthrough left  Kings at 77 for 2 in the ninth over.

Seifert continued his aggressive batting but was taken out by Mohammad Wasim Jr. for a rapid 47 runs off 26 balls, which brought Karachi to 93 for 3 in the 12th over.

Karachi’s middle order crumbled under the mounting pressure. Shan Masood struggled, getting out for a disappointing 9 runs off 17 balls to Khurram Shahzad. Things worsened when Abrar Ahmed dismissed Khushdil Shah without scoring, followed by Amir, who took out Mohammad Nabi for only four runs.

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Shahzad struck again, sending Abbas Afridi back for no runs, and Wasim Jr. further diminished Karachi’s prospects by dismissing Omair Bin Yousuf for 11 runs.

Despite a resilient performance from Hasan Ali, who scored 24 not out off 13 balls, the Kings fell short of their target, losing by five runs.

For Quetta Gladiators, it was an all-round bowling effort with Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, and Khurram Shahzad taking two wickets each.

Earlier, Hasan Ali’s three-wicket haul helped Karachi Kings bundle out Quetta Gladiators for a modest total.

Put into bat, Quetta Gladiators were bundled out for 142 in 19.3 overs, courtesy of a dominant bowling display from Karachi Kings’ four-pronged pace attack.

The Gladiators had a poor start as they lost their top four inside the powerplay. Hasan Ali started the proceedings with an opening burst that removed Saud Shakeel (6) and Finn Allen (0) in the second over.

The wickets brought experienced Rilee Rossouw to the crease. However, his stay was cut short as Hasan castled him, after scoring 10 off 9 balls with the help of two boundaries.

Playing his first match in the PSL, New Zealand’s Mark Chapman could not rise to the occasion, as Mohammad Nabi dismissed him after scoring just 4 runs.

However, on the other end, Kusal Mendis held firm and struck elegant boundaries, taking Gladiators to 69 in 8 overs. He was eventually removed after a brisk 36 off 22 balls with the help of five fours.

Nonetheless, it was Hasan Nawaz’s and Faheem Ashraf’s determined 59-run partnership that took Quetta out of trouble. Both batters batted briskly, taking the team’s score over the 100-run mark in the 15th over.

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In the 15th over bowled by Hasan Ali, Quetta scored 19 runs, boosting their hopes for a strong total. Faheem hit two sixes and four fours, breaking the pressure.

The promising partnership ended in the 16th over with Hasan Nawaz’s removal, after scoring 35 off 34 balls. Quetta Gladiators failed to capitalize on this stand and reach a strong total as Karachi Kings struck in quick succession.

Quetta Gladiators were eventually bundled out for a meagre total on the third ball of the penultimate over, thanks to a run-out. Faheem Ashraf remained the top-scorer with a gutsy 43 off 27 deliveries,

For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali was the stand-out bowler, taking three wickets for 33 in his 3.3 overs. Abbas Afridi and Mir Hamza provided strong support, each taking two wickets.

PLAYING XIs

Karachi Kings: David Warner (C), Tim Siefert, James Vince, Shan Masood, Omair Bin Yousuf, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Fawad Ali.

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (C), Finn Allen, Rilee Rossouw, Kusal Mendis, Mark Chapman, Hassan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Amir, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: PSL 10: Mohammad Rizwan opens up on Munro-Iftikhar on-fie0ld altercation

Former Pakistan captain and team director of Quetta Gladiators, Sarfaraz Ahmed, has recently shared his thoughts on transitioning to his new role with the franchise.

Sarfaraz, who led Quetta Gladiators from the front for eight consecutive seasons, called the shift from captaincy to the team director’s role “interesting” and acknowledged that he’s in the process of learning and adapting.

“It’s an interesting experience stepping into this role after captaining Quetta for so long. I’m trying to learn. I did take on a mentoring role previously in the Champions Cup, so that helped prepare me in some ways,” he said.

While expressing that it’s not easy for a player to switch to a coaching or management role, Sarfaraz highlighted the importance of evolving with time.

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“It’s never easy for a player to transition into a coaching role, but over time, you have to polish your skills and align yourself with new responsibilities,” he added.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has been with the Quetta Gladiators since the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2016, a long-standing association that he says remains special.

“I’m happy to have been associated with Quetta since the very beginning of the PSL. Watching the league grow year by year has been a proud journey. Credit goes to the PCB and all stakeholders involved,” he further stated.

While the past few seasons have been tough for Quetta Gladiators, Sarfaraz is hopeful about a turnaround this time.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t performed well over the last three seasons, but we’ve picked players this year who are well-suited for T20 cricket. We also have some big overseas names, and we’re hopeful they’ll deliver strong performances,” he added.

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Sarfaraz also took a moment to praise some of the local talent in the squad, including young batters Hassan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay.

“Hassan Nawaz is a promising young player, and this is a great opportunity for him to develop and aim for a spot in the national team. Similarly, Khawaja Nafay is also a talented youngster with a bright future,” he said.

He also threw his weight behind new captain Saud Shakeel, who has taken over the leadership reins this season.

“Saud has the full backing of the team. He’s shown good leadership skills, which are reflected in our first win. Even though we couldn’t win the next two games, we have complete faith in him to lead the team forward,” he concluded.

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LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam praised the team’s effective performance in their convincing victory over Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest 130, Peshawar Zalmi comfortably reached the target, losing three wickets in the process with 20 balls to spare.

Peshawar Zalmi faced early setbacks while chasing, losing Saim Ayub on the third ball of the first over. Soon after, Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell to an outstanding delivery from Haris Rauf in the next over, leaving Zalmi in a precarious position at seven for two.

On a pitch that assisted fast bowlers, Lahore Qalandars’ pacers bowled waywardly in the opening overs, allowing Zalmi to capitalize. Mohammad Haris led the charge after an early hiccup as they posted 40 at the end of the fourth over.

Shaheen Afridi dismissed Haris on the last ball of the fourth over, after scoring a spirited 20 off 16 balls, including two sixes in that same over.

At 40-3 in 5 overs, the game looked evenly poised; however, it was Babar Azam and Hussain Talat who took the game away from the Qalandars with a solid 93-run partnership

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The duo batted with composure, taking their total past the 100-run mark in the 14th over. Both Babar and Hussain remained unbeaten, ensuring their team’s victory.

Babar scored 56* off 42 balls, hitting seven fours and one six, while Hussain contributed 51 runs off 37 balls, including five fours and a six.

While speaking in the post-match presentation, Babar credited the bowling unit for their execution in a must-win game.

“As I said at the toss, we’re in a position where every game is a must-win—there’s no room for error. Credit to our bowling unit, they really stepped up and dominated the powerplay, which gave us early control,” he said.

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Babar Azam deemed the Peshawar Zalmi squad as well-balanced, admitting the reliance on their top five or six.

“Looking at our squad, it feels like a well-balanced unit. While Hussain and Mitch can contribute with the ball, we generally rely on our core top 5-6. The key is always execution—sticking to our plans and adapting to the conditions, ” he added.

The right-handed batter highlighted the strong partnership he formed with Hussain Talat, especially during a time when they lost early wickets.

“During the chase, we lost early wickets, which put us under pressure. But the idea was to rebuild calmly and play our natural game till around the 10th over. Hussain’s knock was outstanding—his reading of the situation made a real difference,” Babar concluded.

READ: PSL 10: Babar, Joseph star as Peshawar Zalmi thrash Lahore Qalandars

Legendary West Indian batter and Quetta Gladiators mentor Sir Vivian Richards has hailed former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed for his leadership qualities.

Sarfaraz etched his mark on Pakistan’s cricketing history by leading the national team to a glorious victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

His remarkable journey continued as he steered the Quetta Gladiators to their first-ever Pakistan Super League (PSL) title in 2019.

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Throughout his tenure, Sarfaraz captained the Gladiators from the very first season of the PSL to its eighth. Currently, he is serving as the Team Director of Quetta Gladiators.

Sir Vivian Richards, in an exclusive conversation with a local sports platform, reflected on Sarfaraz’s legacy in Pakistan cricket and the impact he had on his teammates.

“Sarfaraz Ahmed has always been a strong captain. He led from the heart,” said Richards. “Players who served Pakistan with such dedication for years will surely be remembered on the field.”

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Looking ahead, Richards expressed optimism about Pakistan cricket’s future, saying the system must keep producing players who embody Sarfaraz’s fighting spirit.

“As we move forward, I hope we continue to find players who carry Sarfaraz’s kind of passion,” he added.

When asked about Quetta Gladiators’ current skipper Saud Shakeel, Richards acknowledged the young left-hander’s journey as a leader.

“Saud Shakeel is still a young captain and is currently learning,” Richards said.

READ: Shoaib Malik responds to criticism over PSL 10 participation

Veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik has finally broken his silence over growing criticism surrounding his participation as a player in PSL 10, despite being one of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) appointed mentors.

Malik, who is representing Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing season, has come under fire from fans and critics alike, many of whom believe the 43-year-old should be grooming emerging talent from the sidelines rather than featuring in the playing XI himself.

While speaking to the media in Lahore, Malik addressed the backlash head-on.

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“The think tank’s job is to strategise. Our job is to perform when given the chance,” he said. “We are working hard to fix past mistakes and deliver better results going forward.”

Malik, one of the most experienced players in the league, clarified that his contract with the PCB allows him to take on both roles — mentor and player.

“I always try to fulfil my responsibilities as a mentor when needed,” he stated. “My contract clearly states that I am eligible to play, and I am doing that.”

Responding to the criticism about his continued presence on the field, Shoaib Malik didn’t hold back.

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“People often question why I’m still playing, but no one talks about those who are not part of PSL at all,” he said. “Some cricketers have always shown great respect and support for me, and I do the same for them.”

Malik also defended his fitness and ability to contribute on the field. “I am still in good shape and can contribute positively,” he asserted.

So far in PSL 10, Shoaib Malik has played two matches for Quetta Gladiators. He has bowled two overs, conceding 35 runs without taking a wicket. With the bat, he has scored 14 runs off 15 balls in his only outing, without a single boundary.

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LAHORE: Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan’s mystery spinner, has revealed the reason behind ending his unique head-shaking celebration after taking a wicket.

While speaking to a Private channel, Abrar Ahmed stated that he decided to end his head-shake celebration after the match against India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

The 26-year-old spinner, currently representing Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, dismissed Shubman Gill with an outstanding delivery in the high-stakes encounter.

Following the wicket, Abrar gestured to Subman to leave while shaking his head, which drew significant backlash.

“I started this celebration in the previous PSL and continued it in South Africa without any issues,” Abrar explained.

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“But during the India match in the Champions Trophy, it became a bigger deal. I never intended to offend anyone, so I’ve decided to move on from it,” he added.

He emphasized the value of spirit in the game, admitting that he does not want to hurt anyone with his actions.

Abrar Ahmed highlighted the areas of improvement in his bowling, lauding his hard work. The right-arm spinner expressed confidence in the Quetta Gladiators’ squad for a strong comeback in the upcoming matches.

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“Our squad is strong—just one win can change our momentum. Having a legend like Viv Richards motivate us is invaluable,” he remarked.

It is worth mentioning that Abrar Ahmed has a good outing in the PSL 10 so far, taking seven wickets in just three matches. However, Quetta Gladiators have struggled in the tournament so far, currently placed fifth on the points table, with one win and two losses in three matches.

They are scheduled to play their next match against the Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 25 April.

READ: Shaun Tait opens up on possible return as Pakistan coach