Tag: Quetta Gladiators

KARACHI: An all-round performance led Multan Sultans to ease past Quetta Gladiators by a massive margin of 79 runs in the 30th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

The emphatic victory helped Sultans to reclaim the top spot in the PSL 9 standings with 14 points and also booked their Qualifiers clash with Peshawar Zalmi, who moved to second with a point less.

Set to chase 186 against a challenging surface, the Gladiators’ batting unit unfolded on a meagre 106 and thus succumbed to a massive defeat ahead of their Eliminator clash against Islamabad United.

Openers Jason Roy (3) and Saud Shakeel failed to give Gladiators a strong start as the former fell prey to David Willey in the third over with 18 runs on the board.

Shakeel followed his opening partner’s footsteps and got run out in the same over. He scored 14 off nine deliveries, hitting two boundaries including a six.

The Gladiators then lost two more wickets — Rilee Rossouw (10) and Laurie Evans (1) in quick succession and consequently slipped to 47/4 in 6.1 overs.

Youngster Omair Bin Yousuf offered some resistance in the middle phase with a courageous knock until falling victim to Usama Mir in the 12th over.

Yousuf remained the top-scorer for the Gladiators with a 25-ball 37 with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

Following his dismissal, the Sultans’ bowlers ran through the Gladiators’ batting tail to seal a resounding victory for the 2021 champions.

David Willey and Usama Mir led the bowling attack for the Sultans with three wickets each, followed by Abbas Afridi, who claimed two.

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Put into bat first, the Sultans registered a formidable total on the board, courtesy of a collective effort from their batters.

The Sultans, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as they lost their opener Yasir Khan (12) in the third over with just 16 runs on the board.

Following the early blow, in-form Usman Khan joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle and knitted an anchoring partnership.

Their second-wicket stand yielded 52 runs before Abrar Ahmed cleaned up Usman with a quicker delivery.

Usman managed 21 off 23 deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Meanwhile, Rizwan stood his ground firm and partnered strongly with Johnson Charles to put Sultans in control.

They added 65 runs for the third wicket before Rizwan fell victim to Mohammad Amir in the 17th over.

He remained the top-scorer for the Sultans with a 47-ball 69 which featured one boundary and four sixes.

Later, Iftikhar Ahmed joined forces with set-batter Charles and bolstered the Sultans’ total with belligerent hitting.

The duo added a quickfire 46 runs to the tally before Charles finally perished in the final over.

He remained a notable run-getter for the Sultans with 53 off 29 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and three sixes.

Iftikhar, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 20 off eight deliveries which included two boundaries and a six.

Mohammad Amir led the bowling charge for Quetta Gladiators with two wickets but was expensive while Abrar and Akeal Hosein and Mohammad Wasim Jr picked one each.

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KARACHI: Lahore Qalandars’ all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday.

Raza was fined for a Level 1 breach of PSL’s code of conduct for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

The incident occurred during the Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators game at National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Sunday night.

The Zimbabwe all-rounder, on three different occasions during the game, raised his arms, shook his head and gestured that the delivery should have been called a wide ball, leading to a violation of article 2.8, which deals with a player showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during a PSL game.

On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rashid Riaz levelled the charge against Sikandar Raza while match referee Ali Naqvi imposed the fine.

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Raza gave away 32 runs without a wicket in his four overs during Quetta Gladiators’ tense chase of 167 runs.

The Gladiators required 14 off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s final over with their mainstay Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper batter Laurie Evans at the crease.

They had an unwanted start to the over as Evans fell on the first delivery, courtesy of a sharp catch in the deep by Tahir Baig.

Saud then smashed Shaheen for consecutive boundaries on the third and fourth delivery but managed only a single on the penultimate delivery, leaving the Gladiators needing four from one.

Mohammad Wasim Jr then displayed nerves of steel and heaved Shaheen for a six on the final delivery to seal the victory for his side.

READ: Shane Watson believes Wasim Jr. can play Andre Russell’s role for Pakistan

KARACHI: Mohammad Wasim Jr smashed a last-ball six to muscle Quetta Gladiators into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 playoffs with a tense six-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars here on Sunday.

The enthralling victory led Quetta Gladiators into their first PSL playoffs since winning the title in 2019.

They joined Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United in the final four while the Qualifier and Eliminator ties will be decided after the completion of the group stage matches.

Chasing 167 on a tricky National Bank Cricket Arena’s surface, the Gladiators had to make hard yards to seal the all-important victory.

The 2019 champions required 14 off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s final over with their mainstay Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper batter Laurie Evans at the crease.

They had an unwanted start to the over as Evans fell on the first delivery, courtesy of a sharp catch in the deep by Tahir Baig.

Saud then smashed Shaheen for consecutive boundaries on the third and fourth delivery but managed only a single on the penultimate delivery, leaving the Gladiators needing four from one.

Mohammad Wasim Jr then displayed nerves of steel and heaved Shaheen for a six on the final delivery to seal the victory for his side.

Earlier, Jason Roy gave the Gladiators a flying start to the pursuit by hitting Shaheen for three consecutive boundaries.

But Qalandars’ bowling unit regrouped and managed to stop the flow of runs while Jahandad Khan provided them with important breakthroughs by dismissing Roy (18) and Rilee Rossouw (13) in the sixth and ninth over respectively.

Khawaja Nafay and Saud Shakeel then combined to form an anchoring partnership and kept the scoreboard ticking.

They added 70 runs for the third wicket before Nafay perished in the 18th over after scoring a frustrating 26 off 24 deliveries.

Saud Shakeel carried his bat all the way through and remained the top-scorer for the Gladiators with a well-crafted 88. His 65-ball knock featured five boundaries and four sixes.

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Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars set a stiff target for Quetta Gladiators in their all-important PSL 9 fixture.

The defending champions had a cautious start to their innings as in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan knitted a 38-run stand with Tahir Baig before both fell victim to Abrar Ahmed in the sixth over.

Farhan scored 25 off 22 deliveries, hitting four boundaries while Baig made a scratchy 12 off 13.

Abdullah Shafique then put on a one-sided partnership with Shai Hope, who managed a mere five off seven deliveries before walking back in the 10th over with just 69 runs on the board.

Promoted himself to bat up the order, Shaheen Shah Afridi partnered strongly with Abdullah Shafique and put Lahore Qalandars in control.

The duo added a monumental partnership for the fourth wicket with both scoring half-centuries in the process.

Their partnership yielded 91 runs off 57 deliveries before Mohammad Amir struck in the final over to get rid of Shaheen.

Qalandars’ skipper smashed two boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 34-ball 55.

Meanwhile, Shafique carried his bat all the way through and top-scored for the Qalandars with an unbeaten 59. His 39-ball knock featured three boundaries and two sixes.

For the Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed bagged two wickets while Amir and Mohammad Wasim Jr made one scalp each.

It is worth mentioning here that the two-time champions and holders Lahore Qalandars are already out of the playoffs race while Quetta Gladiators need one victory out of their remaining two fixtures to seal their spot in the final four.

The Gladiators are fourth in the PSL 9 standings with nine points in eight matches while the Qalandars are at the bottom with three points in nine matches.

READ: Fakhar Zaman sustains injury in high-octane Kings-Qalandars clash

Quetta Gladiators’ batter Sherfane Rutherford has left the squad, citing personal reasons and will not be available for the remaining group matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

Rutherford did not participate in Quetta Gladiators’ clash against Peshawar Zalmi yesterday as he returned back home for unrevealed family reasons.

However, the left-handed batter will join the squad for the playoffs of PSL 9, if Quetta Gladiators qualify.

Sherfane Rutherford has scored 151 runs in six innings in the ongoing season at a healthy strike rate of 148.03, which includes an unbeaten 58-run knock in the last-ball win against Karachi Kings.

Quetta Gladiators suffered a heavy 76-run defeat against Peshawar Zalmi yesterday, courtesy of Babar Azam’s quickfire half-century, followed by a ruthless bowling effort.

Set to chase 197, the Gladiators’ batting unit unfolded on a meagre 120 despite a solid opening stand.

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Their openers Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy came out all guns blazing, smashing the ball all around the ground until Mehran Mumtaz struck in the fifth over.

The youngster dismissed Saud, who scored a quickfire 24 off 12 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and two sixes.

His dismissal opened the floodgates and the Gladiators lost four more wickets in quick succession, losing half of their side with 76 runs on the board in 10.4 overs.

Akeal Hosein (14) and Omair Bin Yousuf (10) offered minor resilience with their 21-run partnership before both perished.

Later, Mohammad Amir (13) offered a brief fight with his short cameo before Khurram Shahzad dismissed Abrar to sweep off the tail.

Quetta Gladiators are currently sitting in the fourth position in the points table after two consecutive losses. They need to win one of their last two games to qualify for the playoffs.

They will next face Lahore Qalandars on March 10 and Multan Sultans on March 12.

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RAWALPINDI: 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators have rested their former captain and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed for their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 clash against Peshawar Zalmi here on Friday.

The Gladiators, currently third in the standings, made three changes to their Playing XI as they take on fierce rivals Zalmi in an all-important duel at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

They replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford and Usman Tariq with Laurie Evans, Omair Bin Yousuf and Sohail Khan respectively.

The changes marked the first instance that their former captain Sarfaraz would miss the Gladiators’ match without being injured.

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He had missed only two matches for Quetta Gladiators, both last season, due to an injury to his finger, since the inception of the league in 2016.

Notably, Sarfaraz Ahmed had a dismal PSL 9 campaign as he managed only 22 runs in six matches at a dismal average of 5.5 and a best score of 11 which came against defending champions Lahore Qalandars.

His poor form with the bat spans back to the previous edition of the marquee league as he accumulated 162 runs in eight innings at 27 with the best score of 41.

His last half-century in the league came in the 2022 edition when he scored an unbeaten 50 to propel Quetta Gladiators to a thrilling victory over Islamabad United.

However, Sarfaraz Ahmed boasts a decent record with the bat in the PSL. He is the eighth all-time leading run-scorer with 1525 runs in 73 innings at an average of 29.32 and a strike rate of 122.68.

He also led Quetta Gladiators to their solitary PSL title in 2019.

READ: Aaqib Javed opens up about Lahore Qalandars’ struggles in PSL 9

Quetta Gladiator’s off-spinner Usman Tariq has been reported for a suspected bowling action during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.

His action was reported during his side’s match against Karachi Kings yesterday, which was officiated by on-field Richard Illingworth and Asif Yaqoob.

Usman Tariq has played three matches in the PSL 9 and managed only two wickets.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat against Karachi Kings after being bundled for a meagre 118.

Karachi Kings, while chasing a paltry 119-run target, completed the pursuit with 4.3 overs to spare when Shoaib Malik smashed Usman Tariq for six.

Captain Shan Masood fell early in the chase with 13 runs on the board, however, Seifert and James Vince steadied the ship with a 50-run partnership off 39 balls.

Vince scored an anchoring 27 off 28 with the help of four boundaries before he fell to Akeal Hosein.

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Seifert switched gears after the wicket and added 44 runs for the second wicket with Malik but could not finish the game as he fell with his team requiring 12 runs.

He top-scored for Karachi Kings with 49 runs from 31 balls, which featured eight boundaries including two sixes.

Malik scored an anchoring 27-run knock from 20 balls and saw his team chase down the total in the 16th over.

For Quetta Gladiators, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein picked one wicket each.

Earlier, Karachi Kings’ captain Shan Masood opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and the decision bore fruits as they booked the Gladiators on a paltry 118.

Hasan Ali led the bowling attack for Karachi Kings with four wickets while Blessing Muzarabani and Zahid Mahmood bagged two wickets each.

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RAWALPINDI: Hasan Ali took four wickets, followed by Tim Seifert’s quick 49-run knock to help Karachi Kings thump Quetta Gladiators by seven wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

KK 121/3 (15.3 Overs)

Usman Tariq returns to bowl

KK 113/3 (15 Overs)

Hosein to bowl his last over

KK 109/3 (14 Overs)

13.5: Pitched full and bit wide outside off, Seifert went for the big shot and missed it but Sarfraz failed to gather the ball cleanly but did well to gather the ball and broke the stumps at the 2nd attempt.

Abrar to bowl his last over

KK 99/2 (13 Overs)

Hosein to bowl his third

KK 91/2 (12 Overs)

Usman Tariq returns

KK 82/2 (11 Overs)

Hasnain to bowl his second over

KK 68/2 (10 Overs)

Abrar to bowl his third

KK 65/2 (9 Overs)

8.2: Akeal changed his length and pace, it turned a bit with some extra bounce, Vince went for the cut and almost held his bat, it chipped in the air straight in the hands of Hasnain at gully.

Hosein returns

KK 62/1 (8 Overs)

Usman Tariq to bowl his second

KK 60/1 (7 Overs)

Mohammad Hasnain to bowl after the power play

KK 49/1 (6 Overs)

Abrar to bowl his second over

KK 39/1 (5 Overs)

Usman Tariq comes onto the bowl

KK 34/1 (4 Overs)

Amir continues from the other end

KK 16/1 (3 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed introduced into the attack

KK 14/1 (2 Overs)

1.5: It was a beauty from Amir, just outside off and moves away, Shan goes for the drive on the walk, edges it to the keeper and Sarfraz takes a simple catch behind the stumps

Mohammad Amir to bowl the second over

KK 9/0 (1 Over)

Shan Masood and Tim Seifert come out to open the innings. Akeal Hosein to bowl the first over.

KARACHI KINGS vs QUETTA GLADIATORS (2nd INNINGS)

RAWALPINDI: Hasan Ali took four wickets, supported by other bowlers to help Karachi Kings bundle Quetta Gladiators at a meagre 118 in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here on Wednesday.

QG 118 (19.1 Overs)

19.1: Lovely slower delivery on the middle stump, Usman Tariq goes for the big heave across the line, but he misses and Hamza hits the stumps.

Mir Hamza to bowl the last over

QG 118/7 (19 Overs)

18.3: Lovely slower delivery on the middle stump, Hasnain went for the big shot across the line, missed it and the ball hit the middle stump

18.1: Fuller in length just outside off, Hosein tried to go big down the ground, mistimed it and Pollard at long-off took a simple catch

Hasan Ali continues

QG 116/7 (18 Overs)

Mir Hamza to bowl his third

QG 111/7 (17 Overs)

Hasan Ali returns to the attack

QG 102/7 (16 Overs)

15.3: Tossed up, on leg stump, Amir went for the big shot across the line, he misses and the ball hits the leg stump

Mahmood continues

QG 97/6 (15 Overs)

14.4: Fuller in length just outside off, Rutherford hits on the up and wants to clear the long-off fielder and fence, but failed to time that one, Pollard at long-off took a simple catch

Muzarabani to bowl his last

QG 96/5 (14 Overs)

13.1: Rossouw goes and they are in trouble now. He went for the big shot down the ground, mistimed it and hit high in the air, Nawaz at long-off took a simple catch.

Mahmood returns

QG 89/4 (13 Overs)

Malik continues

QG 84/4 (12 Overs)

11.2: A huge mix-up between Sarfraz and Rossouw. Sarfraz ran with the shot but he was looking at the ball and turned back into his crease, Anwar threw at the bowling end, and Muzarbani picked up and ran towards the stumps and flicked the bails off.

Muzarabani returns to the attack

QG 80/3 (11 Overs)

Malik returns

QG 77/3 (10 Overs)

Zahid Mahmood continues

QG 70/3 (9 Overs)

8.4: Hasan Ali bowls back of a length on the leg stump, Nafay goes for the pull and it goes straight at the throat of Muzarbani at the fine leg.

8.1: Hasan Ali comes from around the wicket, fuller in length and takes the pace off, Saud goes for the big shot, hits the bottom of the bat and it goes high in the air, Shoaib Malik at deep midwicket took a good high catch.

Hasan Ali returns

QG 67/1 (8 Overs)

Zahid Mahmood to bowl his first over

QG 60/1 (7 Overs)

Malik returns to bowl

QG 53/1 (6 Overs)

Hasan Ali comes into the attack

QG 51/1 (5 Overs)

Muzarabani continues

QG 37/1 (4 Overs)

Mir Hamza continues from the other end

QG 28/1 (3 Overs)

2.1: Muzarabani pitched slightly short of length, Roy tried to play a big shot on the offside, got a top edge and it went high in the air, Hasan Ali at third man took a well-judged catch.

Blessing Muzarabani replaces Malik

QG 20/0 (2 Overs)

Mir Hamza to bowl from the other end

QG 9/0 (1 Over)

Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy come out to open the innings. Shoaib Malik to bowl the first over.

KARACHI KINGS vs QUETTA GLADIATORS (1st INNINGS)

RAWALPINDI: Karachi Kings have won the toss and elected to field against Quetta Gladiators in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

PLAYING XIs

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

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Karachi Kings: Shan Masood (c), James Vince, Tim Seifert, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Hasan Ali, Blessing Muzarabani.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 17, Quetta Gladiators 12, Karachi Kings 5

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RAWALPINDI: Karachi Kings have won the toss and elected to field against Quetta Gladiators in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

PLAYING XIs

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

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Karachi Kings: Shan Masood (c), James Vince, Tim Seifert, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Hasan Ali, Blessing Muzarabani.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 17, Quetta Gladiators 12, Karachi Kings 5

READ: Jonny Bairstow under pressure in 100th Test after lean India series

Shane Watson, the head coach of Quetta Gladiators, praised the leadership qualities of former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed despite losing captaincy ahead of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

Sarfaraz Ahmed led Quetta Gladiators for eight consecutive seasons before he was replaced by Rilee Rossouw for the ongoing season.

However, Shane Watson stated that Sarfaraz is a leader on the field and is supportive of the new captain.

“He’s such a great leader and he leads on the field whether he’s got the C placed beside his name or not. He’s been exceptional,” said Watson while speaking to a local sports channel.

“The support that he gives him (Rilee) has been exceptional. So, it’s a real credit to Sarfraz the ways he’s taken it on and he continues to lead.

“He’s just his natural leader anyway. So even if he doesn’t ever have a C beside his name, he certainly knows how to be able to add the value he needs to.

The former Australian all-rounder also heaped high praise on Saud Shakeel, who has been impressive with his batting at the top order, scoring 164 runs in five games at a strike rate of 150.45.

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“Saud is a highly skilled young man, his balance with Jason Roy and his ability to play spin and fast bowling make him a perfect fit for the opening slot.

Meanwhile, Watson appreciated the “exceptional” batting prodigy Khawaja Nafay and termed him a future prospect for Pakistan.

“Khawaja Nafay has exceptional power and bat speed. His skill and power make him a promising prospect for Pakistan cricket.

Wason also shared his experience of coaching Quetta Gladiators and expressed contentment with the way the team has played in the tournament so far.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be the head coach of a team like Quetta Gladiators. I’ve been very happy with the way the guys have played.

“For me, the most important thing about being the head coach was setting up an environment where the players feel that they can be at their very best and they certainly have throughout the whole tournament so far.

“Everyone has put their hand up when the teams needed them.”

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