LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars search the elusive Pakistan Tremendous League identify as they tackle in-form protecting champions Multan Sultans within the ultimate in Lahore as of late. The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Qalandars are the one staff within the six-team league who’ve no longer gained the contest identify for the reason that Twenty20 league began in 2016. They misplaced to Karachi Kings in the one ultimate they performed in 2020.
However the process for Qalandars is hard as they face a rampaging Sultan facet that gained 9 in their ten first spherical suits. Qalandars have been the one facet to overcome them within the first spherical however Sultans avenged that defeat via trouncing them within the qualifiers via 28 runs on Wednesday. Shaheen, whose facet edged out Islamabad United via six runs in a last-over mystery in the second one eliminator on Friday, vowed his staff is not going to accept the rest lower than successful the trophy.
“After Friday evening’s fantastic win we need to accept not anything however the PSL trophy,” stated Shaheen. Sultans are led inspirationally via Mohammad Rizwan, declared Twenty20 global participant of the 2021 via the World Cricket Council final month. Rizwan was hoping his staff can repeat their final yr’s triumph within the ultimate held in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s been a terrific event for us and I, as captain, may no longer have requested extra from my gamers,” stated Rizwan. Each the groups are power-packed in batting in addition to in bowling. Qalandars have Fakhar Zaman as opener who has to this point scored a league file of 585 at a strike fee of 154.35. Rizwan is Sultan’s best run-getter with 532 runs whilst his opening spouse Shan Masood has 459.
Sultans even have persistent hitters in Western Australian Tim David and previous South African Rilee Rossouw. Their assault has Lahore born former South African Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Khushdil Shah who all have 16 wickets within the event. Shaheen is the spearhead of Qalandars’ assault with 17 wickets whilst newcomer slinger Zaman Khan (16) and Pakistan global Haris Rauf has 15 wickets.
Qalandars attempted valiantly to herald their ace Afghan spinner Rashid Khan from Bangladesh in a chartered flight to play on Sunday, however gave up as logistics have been a large downside. Kings and Quetta Gladiators – each former champions – bowed out within the first spherical on this version. – AFP