SPORTS Saturday, 20 February, 2016
Quetta Gladiators throuGh to
final after one-run win Dubai
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scoreboArd
Agencies
LAdIAToRS reach the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final by beating Peshawar Zalmi by one run in a nail biting finish in front of a jam-packed dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Peshawar Zalmi skipper Shahid Afridi threw away his wicket as Quetta Gladiators tighten grip on the match in defence of 133. Grant Elliott took three wickets and Mohammad Nawaz two to dismiss Zalmi’s Mohammad Hafeez (15), Brad Hodge (zero), Shahid Yousuf (15), Jonny Bairstow (15) and Shahid Afridi (two) to bring Quetta Gladiators back into the game. Anwar Ali also contributed by claiming a crucial wicket of Kamran Akmal (nine). Zalmi, chasing 133 posted by Gladiators, started off well but Nawaz, with wickets on back to back deliveries, turned things back into the favour of his team. Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi bowlers kept their line and length in check to wrap up Quetta Gladiators for 133 (all out). Bismillah Khan was the first to depart on zero, and others coming down the order followed suite, except for Kevin Pietersen (53) and Kumar Sangakkara (37) who put up some resistance. Ahmed Shehzad (six), Sarfraz Ahmed (zero), Mohammad Nawaz (20), Grant Elliott (five), Nathan McCullum (five), Anwar Ali (one) and Zulfiqar Babar (zero) failed to deliver in front of a charged-up Zalmi pace attack. Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with figures 3.3-0-17-3, followed by Shaun Tait 4-0-23-2. Mohammad Asghar, Hasan Ali, Shahid Afridi and darren Sammy also chipped in by claiming a wicket each. England’s Johnny Bairstow and New Zealand’s Nathan McCullum made their Pakistan Super League (PSL) debuts as Zalmi won the toss and elected to field first in the first playoff. Bairstow is making his first appearance for Zalmi who also persisted with rookie paceman Hassan Ali for the all-important game. For the Gladiators, McCullum comes in place of Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi who has linked up with the national team for the Asia Cup Twenty20. Sixteen days ago the prospect of staging the PSL on time seemed uncertain. Yet two weeks after a spectacular opening ceremony, Pakistan’s T20 league has generated great buzz. The Gladiators, led by Sarfraz Ahmed, have
QuettA glAdiAtors innings (20 overs mAximum) ................r bismillah Khan c bairstow b Hasan Ali ...........................................0 Ahmed shehzad st †Kamran Akmal b mohammad Asghar ........6 KP Pietersen c Hasan Ali b tait ........................................................53 Kc sangakkara c bairstow b sammy ...............................................37 sarfraz Ahmed*† c & b shahid Afridi ..............................................0 mohammad nawaz (3) c Wahab riaz b tait ...................................20 gd elliott c tait b Wahab riaz ..........................................................5 nl mccullum c mohammad Hafeez b Wahab riaz .......................1 Anwar Ali c sammy b Wahab riaz ....................................................1 Zulfiqar babar run out (†Kamran Akmal/Wahab riaz) .................0 Aizaz cheema not out ........................................................................0 extrAs: (lb 8, w 2) ..............................................................................10 totAl: (all out; 19.3 overs) ..................................................................133 FAll oF WicKets: 1-0 (bismillah Khan, 0.2 ov), 2-11 (Ahmed shehzad, 3.1 ov), 3-90 (sangakkara, 11.6 ov), 4-95 (sarfraz Ahmed, 12.4 ov), 5106 (Pietersen, 14.1 ov), 6-122 (mohammad nawaz, 16.5 ov), 7-126 (mccullum, 17.6 ov), 8-133 (elliott, 19.1 ov), 9-133 (Zulfiqar babar, 19.2 ov), 10-133 (Anwar Ali, 19.3 ov) Bowling: Hasan Ali 3-1-13-1, mohammad Asghar 2-0-12-1, Wahab riaz 3.30-17-3, sW tait 4-0-23-2, shahid Afridi 4-0-30-1, dJg sammy 3-0-30-1 PesHAWAr ZAlmi innings (tArget: 134 runs From 20 overs) r mohammad Hafeez b mohammad nawaz .......................................15
captured the imagination with their low-key build up to the tournament and the presence of West Indies great Sir Viv Richards as the team’s mentor. They have unearthed a star in all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, while players like Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura have been instrumental in wins. Zalmi, led by the enigmatic Shahid Afridi, have backed dazzling marketing campaigns with powerful performances on the field making them the most-admired team of the PSL. The two teams have a 1-1 head-to-head
Kamran Akmal† b Anwar Ali ..............................................................9 shahid Yousuf c Zulfiqar babar b elliott .........................................15 bJ Hodge b mohammad nawaz .........................................................0 Jm bairstow b elliott ............................................................................15 dJg sammy c mccullum b mohammad nawaz .............................38 shahid Afridi* c mohammad nawaz b elliott .................................2 Wahab riaz c Ahmed shehzad b Aizaz cheema ...........................22 Hasan Ali c & b Aizaz cheema ..........................................................5 mohammad Asghar not out ...............................................................1 sW tait not out ....................................................................................0 extrAs: (b 3, lb 1, w 4, nb 2) ............................................................10 totAl: (9 wickets; 20 overs) ..............................................................132 FAll oF WicKets: 1-29 (Kamran Akmal, 4.3 ov), 2-31 (mohammad Hafeez, 5.1 ov), 3-31 (Hodge, 5.2 ov), 4-57 (bairstow, 10.3 ov), 5-62 (shahid Yousuf, 12.1 ov), 6-84 (shahid Afridi, 14.6 ov), 7-113 (sammy, 17.6 ov), 8-131 (Hasan Ali, 19.4 ov), 9-131 (Wahab riaz, 19.5 ov) bowling: Anwar Ali 4-0-28-1, Zulfiqar babar 4-0-20-0, Aizaz cheema 4-0-34-2, mohammad nawaz (3) 4-0-27-3, gd elliott 4-0-19-3 mAtcH detAils toss: Peshawar Zalmi, who chose to field series: Quetta gladiators advanced umPires: Aleem dar (Pakistan) and shozab raza (Pakistan) tv umPire: Ahsan raza (Pakistan) mAtcH reFeree: rs mahanama (sri lanka)
record but Zalmi won the last encounter comprehensively. Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Brad Hodge, Shahid Yousuf, Jonny Bairstow, Shahid Afridi (captain), darren Sammy, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asghar, Shaun Tait and Hasan Ali. Quetta Gladiators: Bismillah Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Grant Elliott, Nathan McCullum, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Aizaz Cheema.
Ravi Bopara replaces Shoaib Malik as Karachi Kings captain Dubai Agencies
Karachi King’s skipper Shoaib Malik has resigned from captaincy media reported. Ravi Bopara will be leading the Karachibased side in Malik’s stead in the upcoming play-off round of the inaugural HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL). Bopara had previously criticised Malik’s decision to bat first in Kings’ match against Peshawar Zalmi, which the Karachi side lost by
five wickets. He further criticised team’s overall performance in the tournament, claiming that his side did not deserve to qualify for the next round. “We played poorly throughout the league, we do not deserve to be through to the play-offs, if I be brutally true,” said Bopara. In the encounter against Zalmi, Bopara praised Brad Hodge’s performance stating it as a reason for his team’s defeat. “We were winning the game until Hodge got hold of us,” said Bopara.
asia Cup: step up or lose world t20 spot, afridi warns players sports Desk Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday called upon his players to improve their performances or risk losing their World Twenty20 spot. Pakistan named their 15-man World T20 squad last week but Afridi said ‘last minute’ changes could yet be made based on the performances of players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Asia Cup T20, which commences February 29. “I hope we don’t need to make changes in the squad and it [the same team] plays in both events but if any player fails to click in the Asia Cup then changes can be made in the side for the World T20,” Afridi said in an interview with Cricbuzz. International Cricket Council (ICC) set February 8 as the initial deadline to submit the World T20 squads, while Pakistan was granted a two-day extension on Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request. According to an ICC official, member nations can tinker with their team combinations until March 8. Afridi said players who deliver standout performances in the ongoing PSL will be considered for a place in the World T20 squad. “If there are players who impress everyone in the Pakistan Super League, they can be considered for the World T20,” he said. Mohammad Nawaz and Rumman Raees are two players who have already benefited from their PSL performances, earning spots in the Asia Cup and World T20 squads. But Afridi expressed disappointment over the efforts of several seasoned campaigners who failed consistently. “The team management, selectors and I gave full confidence and support to every player. The same response was not forthcoming from players,” he said. Afridi hoped the PSL would serve as a solid platform for emerging players and eventually supply talent to the national team. “Back home in domestic cricket no one comes to watch matches and there is no real pressure on the players to do well. To me the PSL can serve as the platform where players can develop their confidence and learn to play under pressure,” he added.
Pakistan to bring Viv richards on board for world t20
New delhi : Former West Indies skipper Sir Vivian Richards is likely to join the Pakistan squad as a batting consultant for the upcoming World T20 to be played in India this March. According to officials, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in talks with Richards to take on the batting consultant role for the upcoming T20 event. Earlier, Richards had expressed his desire to coach the Pakistan cricket team, saying he would definitely give it a shot if he was given an offer by the country’ Cricket Board. The 63-year-old, who is currently mentoring Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, also described current head coach Waqar Younis as a legend and said the former pace spearhead had been doing a magnificent job for the team. online
PSL NOT THE ANSWER TO PAKISTAN’S BATTING WOES: HAFEEZ sports Desk The Pakistan Super League (PSL) may be a huge success and produce several superstars but former captain Mohammad Hafeez has warned authorities to not let the tournament gloss over the fact that country’s domestic structure is in shambles. Hafeez, who opens the batting for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, said there was a dire need to focus on club-level and First-class cricket if Pakistan are to solve their batting crisis. “There are no two-ways about it. A tournament like PSL can help you unearth some talent which can function well under pressure, but if you want
quality batsmen, you will need to fix the quality of domestic cricket,” Hafeez said in an interview. Pakistan have experimented with more a dozen opening pairs in the last five years while Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have held things together. But with both players set to retire soon, Hafeez has warned that the team may face a crisis. “We need to pay attention to club level cricket and First-Class cricket. Both of these types of cricket need to be developed into a highly competitive level of cricket if we are to produce these world beater and high quality batsmen.” The ‘Professor’ said the solution to
Pakistan’s batting problems may be as simple as changing the quality of balls being used on the domestic circuit. “If we are even compromising on the quality of balls being used in domestic cricket then we cannot improve the quality of our domestic batsmen, nor can we produce quality fastbowlers or spinners for that matter.” “As we know, the talent that plays for us on the international level must emerge from domestic cricket and unless the skills of these players are within 40%-60% of what is needed at the international stage, then we will always struggle to find players of high quality.” The PSL may be successful in addressing some of the issues but according to
Hafeez, the league must shift to Pakistan to really have a trigger effect. “In any venture, there is always room for improvement. The most important thing for me is for the PSL to be moved to Pakistan at the earliest. It will be very special for all of us to see our crowds flocking back to the stadiums to watch these games.” Hafeez also called for an increase in the number of franchises in the league to ‘accommodate’ all the promising local players. “It would be great if the PCB can consider increasing the number of teams by one or two then we can be assured of seeing even more Pakistani talent emerging from this tournament.”
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