Tag: Quetta Gladiators

Quetta Gladiators share update on Hasaranga’s availability in PSL 9

Posted on by A Sports

Quetta Gladiators shared an update about the availability of Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

Quetta Gladiators’ head of player acquisition, Nabeel Hashmi, while answering a question on his X (formerly Twitter) account clarified that Hasaranga is yet to receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for PSL 9.

Hasaranga was set to feature in five matches for Quetta Gladiators this season after being retained in the Platinum category, however, it was reduced to three matches due to the ongoing series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Hashmi also shed light on the players who are confirmed for the first match against Peshawar Zalmi on February 18.

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Gladiators’ newly appointed captain Rilee Rossouw along with Jason Roy, Sherfane Rutherford, Laurie Evans, Akeal Hosein and Will Smeed will be available for selection during their opening game.

The marquee event will be played in four cities – Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi – with the final of the six-team tournament taking place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on 18 March.

Over the course of the 34-match tournament, Karachi will host 11 matches, including the Qualifier, two Eliminators and the final.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will each host nine matches, while fans in Multan, the city of saints, will witness five matches.

Quetta Gladiators squad for PSL 9:

Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Junior, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Will Smeed, Khawaja Nafay, Adil Naz, Akeal Hosain, and Sohail Khan.

READ: Ravichandran Ashwin becomes the second-fastest to take 500 Test wickets

Sarfaraz Ahmed likely to be replaced as Quetta Gladiators captain for PSL 9

Posted on by A Sports

Former Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Quetta Gladiators are likely to make a ground-breaking change as they might sack wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed from the captaincy role ahead of the upcoming PSL 9.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has been a key part of the franchise since the inaugural edition of the PSL and has been leading the side since then.

The franchise played three finals under his leadership and also lifted their solitary title in 2019.

However, the franchise saw a total change of fortune since winning the title as they failed to reach the playoffs in the last four editions.

In a bid to force a change, Quetta Gladiators made notable changes in their coaching staff and management as they brought in legendary all-rounder Shane Watson as the head coach and express pacer Shaun Tait as their bowling coach.

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Meanwhile, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Quetta Gladiators may sack Sarfaraz Ahmed as the captain, the decision of which will be taken when franchise owner Nadeem Omar meets Shane Watson in the coming days.

Notably, there is no strong candidate to replace Sarfaraz as the captain but Rilee Rossouw and Saud Shakeel are said to be the frontrunners to take the role.

Franchise owner Nadeem Omer recently appeared in a local podcast where he revealed that he is “double-minded” on Sarfaraz Ahmed’s future as the captain.

“It is the elephant in the room,” Omar said. “Wherever I go, people ask me this. But our franchise is a bit different from the others in the sense that we have a very intimate relationship with these players. I understand cricketers have a shelf life, but I think over Pakistan history, we tend to dump players unceremoniously.”

Omar then confirmed that he is scheduled to meet Watson in a few days and if a decision is made to remove Sarfaraz from captaincy, then the franchise will give the well-deserved honour to the wicketkeeper batter.

“Sarfaraz has been off the boil over the last couple of years. There are a lot of reasons for that – the way he was unceremoniously ousted by the PCB didn’t help, especially when he had a few more years. We won’t dump him unceremoniously.

“We haven’t decided yet but we’ll give him full honours. Sarfaraz told me he would be happy to step aside if Quetta wants to make a change. We have a call with Shane Watson in a couple of days and then we’ll decide,” Omar added.

It is pertinent to mention that Quetta Gladiators announced Sarfaraz Ahmed as their captain amid the PSL 9 Players Draft earlier this month.

Quetta Gladiators squad for PSL 9: 

Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Junior, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Will Smeed, Khawaja Nafay, Adil Naz, Akeal Hosain, and Sohail Khan.

READ: Wahab Riaz opens up on Nawaz’s selection for New Zealand series

Shaun Tait appointed as Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach for PSL 9

Posted on by A Sports

QUETTA: 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Quetta Gladiators on Saturday, appointed former Australian pacer Shaun Tait as their bowling coach for the upcoming PSL 9.

Quetta Gladiators announced Shaun Tait’s appointment as the bowling coach on their official X, formerly Twitter, account.

“Purple Force get another Australian boost as Shaun Tait joins Team Quetta as bowling coach,” said the franchise.

“Tait – one of the fastest bowlers to have ever played the game – will work with [Mohammad Hasnain], [Mohammad Amir], [Mohammad Wasim Jr] and co,” the statement added.

Notably, Shaun Tait served as the bowling coach of the Pakistan Men’s cricket team from February 2022 to January 2023.

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He represented Australia in three Tests, 35 ODIs and 21 T20Is, picking up 95 wickets across formats.

Shaun Tait will join his former teammate Shane Watson – appointed as the head coach – in Quetta Gladiators’ coaching panel.

“The Quetta Gladiators owner and the team management has decided to appoint Former Australian all-rounder and Gladiators’ best run-getter in the PSL, Shane Watson as head coach of the team,” the 2019 PSL champions stated.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators also announced a change in their management with Moin Khan being appointed the Team Director, who served as their head coach since the inaugural season of PSL.

Under Moin Khan’s coaching, Quetta Gladiators reached the play-off stage in the first four editions, playing three finals.

Quetta Gladiators became PSL champions in 2019 under the captaincy of Sarfaraz Ahmed, with Shane Watson leading their batting line-up.

Watson was the highest run-scorer with 430 runs at a strike rate of 143.81 and was named player of the tournament during the 2019 edition.

However, since then Gladiators failed to qualify for the play-off stages in the next four editions of the PSL.

Shane Watson has previously served the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals as an assistant coach in 2022, as well as the head coach of the Major League Cricket franchise San Francisco Unicorns earlier this year.

READ: Smith, Khawaja power Australia to 300-run lead against Pakistan

Shane Watson appointed as Head Coach of Quetta Gladiators for PSL 9

Posted on by A Sports

Quetta Gladiators have appointed former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as the head coach ahead of the upcoming season of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Quetta Gladiators announced Shane Watson’s appointment as the head coach on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.

“The Quetta Gladiators owner and the team management has decided to appoint Former Australian all-rounder and Gladiators’ best run-getter in the PSL, Shane Watson as head coach of the team,” the 2019-PSL champions posted.

Quetta Gladiators yesterday announced the change in their coaching team with Moin Khan being appointed the Team Director, who served as their head coach since the inaugural season of PSL.

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Under Moin Khan’s coaching, Quetta Gladiators reached the play-off stage in the first four editions, playing three finals.

Quetta Gladiators became PSL champions in 2019 under the captaincy of Sarfaraz Ahmed, with Shane Watson leading their batting line-up.

Watson was the highest run-scorer with 430 runs at a strike rate of 143.81 and was named player of the tournament during the 2019 edition.

However, since then Gladiators failed to qualify for the play-off stages in the next four editions of the PSL.

Shane Watson has previously served the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals as an assistant coach in 2022, as well as the head coach of the Major League Cricket franchise San Francisco Unicorns earlier this year.

READ: Pakistan-born Uganda player expresses wish to play against Babar Azam, Virat Kohli

Iftikhar Ahmed joins Multan Sultans, Rilee Rossouw returns to Quetta Gladiators for PSL 9

Posted on by shoaib.jatt

LAHORE: All-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has parted ways with Quetta Gladiators and will wear the colours of Multan Sultans in the ninth season of Pakistan Super League (PSL), while Rilee Rossouw will return to Gladiators.

The trade deal saw Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans swapping Iftikhar Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw, as well as, Sultans getting the first pick in the platinum category round one while Gladiators will get the first pick in the silver round one.

Iftikhar Ahmed has previously represented Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings and Islamabad United, along with Gladiators in PSL and Multan Sultans will be his fifth team.

Meanwhile, Rilee Rossouw was part of Quetta Gladiators’ PSL winning team in 2019, having represented the team from 2017-2019.

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The process of local player category renewals for the upcoming ninth edition of the tournament was completed on 10 November with categories upgraded for nine players.

The registration window for foreign players was opened on 25 October with several top players across the globe showing interest.

The PSL Player Draft for the ninth season will take place at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on 13 December 2023.

The retentions and trades are to be finalized before the PSL 9 Player Draft, after the completion of the National T20.

Earlier, Karachi Kings traded Imad Wasim to Islamabad United for Hasan Ali and received Islamabad United’s first-round silver pick in exchange for their second silver pick.

READ: Shan Masood receives promotion in PCB’s central contract list

‘Sarfaraz is our hero and will remain our hero,’ says Nadeem Omar

Posted on by A Sports

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators’ owner Nadeem Omar backed his franchise skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed after his side’s dismal campaign in the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

The Gladiators, who were considered the underdogs of the marquee league, won the title in 2019 after beating Peshawar Zalmi in the final.

The former champions, however, have been struggling since then to emulate their domination and failed to make it to the playoffs for the next four seasons.

The Gladiators’ dismal performance in four straight seasons resulted in their fans questioning Sarfaraz’s credibility as the franchise captain and criticised his individual performance.

Meanwhile, the Gladiators’ owner Nadeem, spoke to a private sports channel on the sidelines of a local event here and backed his franchise’s captain Sarfaraz despite all the ongoing criticism surrounding the wicketkeeper batter.

“I always say one thing, Sarfaraz is our hero and will remain our hero. Sarfaraz grew up in front of me, he won us U19 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Unfortunately, we unceremoniously dump players with lots of services for the country,” he lamented.

“Sarfaraz is a very good human and a cricketer. Recently, he proved himself during the Test series against New Zealand. We can’t throw him out just because people are saying,

“He is our trademark and Quetta will never leave him. We have time till next PSL, we will sit with Sarfaraz and discuss. I am sure Sarfaraz will never want Quetta’s downfall,” he highlighted.

Earlier, Sarfaraz also opened up on his future with the Gladiators, speaking in a YouTube podcast, said he has no plans to leave the side.

“I am associated with Quetta for the last eight years but my relationship with them is too old. I think since 2003 or 2004, I am with them. I guess I was just 17 when I first played for Nadeem Bhai’s team Omar Associates,” he recalled.

“I played for the Pakistan club and Nadeem Bhai saw and supported me during my growth as a cricketer. He is just like a father figure to me. I will not leave Quetta until they do,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that Sarfaraz has been leading the Gladiators since the inception of the PSL in 2016. He represented the Gladiators in all their matches before finally missing two straight matches due to an injury.

READ: PCB once again issues revised schedule of New Zealand tour to Pakistan 

Sarfaraz Ahmed opens up on his future with Quetta Gladiators

Posted on by A Sports

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators’ captain Sarfaraz Ahmed opened up regarding his future with his Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise and said he has no plans to leave the side.

Sarfaraz while speaking in a YouTube podcast, responded to a question regarding his future with the Gladiators and shared his bond with the franchise owner Nadeem Omar and claimed that he will not leave the former champions until they decided to part ways.

“I am associated with Quetta for the last eight years but my relationship with them is too old. I think since 2003 or 2004, I am with them. I guess I was just 17 when I first played for Nadeem Bhai’s team Omar Associates,” he recalled.

“I played for the Pakistan club and Nadeem Bhai saw and supported me during my growth as a cricketer. He is just like a father figure to me. I will not leave Quetta until they do,” he said.

Notably, Sarfaraz has been with the Gladiators since the inception of the PSL in 2016. The wicketkeeper never missed a single match for Gladiators until this year when an injury forced him to miss his side’s last two fixtures.

Meanwhile, Gladiators’ owner Omar in multiple interviews, often backed Sarfaraz to continue to lead his side and reiterated that he will remain in the franchise until he himself decides otherwise regarding his future.

It is pertinent to mention that the Sarfaraz-led Gladiators are going downhill after winning the title in 2019 as the side failed to make it to the playoffs in the previous four editions of the PSL.

READ: ‘He’s getting better,’ Sarfaraz backs Babar Azam’s captaincy skills

Quetta Gladiators’ PSL 8 playoff qualification scenario explained

Posted on by A Sports

RAWALPINDI: The 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Quetta Gladiators are still in contention to qualify for the playoff of the ongoing eighth edition.

The Gladiators, firstly need to beat Multan Sultans by a big margin in their last group fixture to stay alive in the tournament with eight points in 10 matches.

They would then also want Islamabad United to beat Peshawar Zalmi by a hefty margin on Sunday to qualify for the final four.

The Gladiators need a swing of approximately 100 runs in their favour from the aforementioned games.

However, a defeat in their final fixture would result in their exit from the tournament and Peshawar Zalmi will automatically qualify for the playoff.

Meanwhile, Zalmi can qualify for the playoffs even if they lose by a close margin.

 

It is pertinent to mention that the Gladiators are currently at the fifth spot in the PSL 8 standings with six points in nine matches, while Zalmi are fourth with eight points in as many matches.

Defending champions Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and Sultans have already booked their spots in the playoffs.

READ: Athapaththu’s ton in vain as Amazons win Women’s League exhibition 2-1 

‘Disappointed’ Gul optimistic for Gladiators comeback

Posted on by ali.hassan

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach Umar Gul has expressed hope for his team’s comeback in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

The Gladiators, who succumbed to their fourth defeat of the ongoing season following a crushing 63-run defeat against Islamabad United on Friday have sunk to the bottom of the points table with only two points in five matches.

The 2019 champions now need to win all their remaining five matches to make a case for themselves to make it to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, amid his side’s dismal campaign in the ongoing PSL 8, bowling coach Gul is still optimistic about his side’s comeback.

“We are too disappointed with this performance,” said Gul in the post-match press conference at National Bank Cricket Arena.

“I think we are still very much in the tournament. We still have a complete chance to make a comeback from here,” he added.

“We have told players that still five matches are left. If we play according to our strength, we will be in the tournament,” he maintained.

Gul then also praised wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan’s astounding 97-run knock against the Gladiators which lifted the United to post a mammoth 220/6 which eventually was too much for the Gladiators.

“Azam played really well and took the match away from us. We made mistakes in all departments. I know we could have done better,” said Gul.

It is pertinent to mention that the Gladiators next face defending champions Lahore Qalandars on March 2 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

READ: Sri Lanka names Test squad for New Zealand tour

Gladiators’ players meet young cancer patients ahead of United clash

Posted on by ali.hassan

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators’ players paid a visit to the young cancer patients here ahead of their Pakistan Super League (PSL) fixture against Islamabad United on Friday.

According to the details, Gladiators’ captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, alongside Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah met the young patients and extended their support for the children.

The young patients were over the moon by meeting their favourite stars. The Gladiators took pictures with the children and gave their autographs.

Furthermore, the players also gave the children their signed bats and Gladiators’ jerseys.

Taking to Twitter, the Gladiators share footage of their players paying a visit to a local hospital here.

“Little warriors met their favourite Gladiators,” wrote the franchise.

Earlier, PSL 8 observed childhood cancer awareness day on February 16.

The day was observed when 2020 PSL champions Karachi Kings played Islamabad United in the fourth match of PSL 8 at National Bank Cricket Arena here. Players from both sides donned golden caps and ribbons to promote awareness of the disease.

It is pertinent to mention that the Gladiators will lock horns with Islamabad United in their fifth fixture of the ongoing PSL 8.

The side is currently at the bottom of the points table with just two points in four matches, while the United are in the second spot with four points in three matches.

READ: Gurbaz credits pre-match chat with Babar for solid performance