Tag: PSL 2021

  • Peshawar Zalmi is the ‘strongest’ team in the tournament, says Shahid Afridi

    Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi said that Peshawar Zalmi is the strongest team of the tournament, while talking to Arab News.

    “I believe if Multan Sultans continues with its [current] form, it can win,” Afridi told the news media publication. “But the combination of Peshawar is excellent when we see their bowling and batting. So in my view, the strongest team [in this tournament] is Peshawar.”

    Afridi said it was a matter of happiness that his team, Multan Sultans, has qualified for the finals. “I extend congratulations to the entire squad, especially [captain Muhammad] Rizwan.”

    The final of the sixth season of the PSL will be played today between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi.

  • Hasan Ali’s personal issue resolved, available for rest of PSL 2021

    Hasan Ali’s personal issue resolved, available for rest of PSL 2021

    Islamabad United have received a boost in their challenge for the PSL title this season with the news that fast bowler Hasan Ali will, after all, be available for the rest of their campaign. Ali was due to fly back on Sunday evening to attend to a personal family situation in Pakistan but decided against it after the matter was resolved.

    “I was going through a personal family issue, which has been resolved thanks to my wonderful wife,” Ali said in a statement. “She assured me she will take care of it and wants me to concentrate on my cricket and my career. Hats off to such a wonderful partner. She has always stood by me through the hardest times and after consulting with her, I have decided to stay on with Islamabad United for the remainder of the PSL 6.”

    Two-time winners United moved to the top of the table on Sunday evening after a convincing win over Lahore Qalandars. United were 20 for 5 at one point before recovering to 152 for 7, thanks to 75 from Asif Ali and 49 from Iftikhar Ahmed. Their bowlers then blew apart Qalandars as Musa Khan, Shadab Khan and Fawad Ahmed induced a collapse from 86 for 2 to 100 for 9.

    Despite missing a game, Ali is United’s top wicket-taker this season – and fifth in the league – with 10 wickets. His PSL returns have been in line with his performances since he returned to cricket this season after a series of injuries derailed his career.

    Since Ali didn’t leave the bubble, he will not need to re-enter and undergo quarantine. United are scheduled to face defending champions Karachi Kings on Monday.

  • Wasim Akram is losing his mind as he quarantines for PSL6

    Wasim Akram is losing his mind as he quarantines for PSL6

    The sixth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is ready to resume in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Abu Dhabi shall host the 20 matches at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium from the first week of June. For that all teams and their staff have to go through a week’s isolation to maintain COVID-19 protocols for the tournament. Karachi Kings’ president and former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram is losing his mind in isolation as he is also quarantined for the same.

    “Third day in isolation, seen everything on Netflix, Prime, cable TV and now I think I am about to lose my sh_t,” wrote Akram on Twitter.

    “Suggestions are welcome,” he added.

    Replying to his tweet, Kings’ owner Salman Iqbal said: “Seven more days to go bro! I have some suggestions , will send you a WhatsApp.”

    Fahad Mustafa then dived in and replied to Salman, saying: “I also have some suggestions Salman bhai. Have to share with you before you leave.”

    Akram then replied to Fahad and said: “Salman is not even going into the bubble so don’t waste your ideas on him but I am all ears though.”

    “Third day [and] losing it already, said Wasim being bored-to-tears.

    According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), around 168 people will travel from Lahore on a chartered flight while 65 will leave for Abu Dhabi from Karachi. All the cricketers and coaching staff available in Pakistan for the league have been in quarantine at a local hotel since Monday where the second test of COVID-19 was conducted on Tuesday and their reports will come out before the planes depart for Abu Dhabi.

  • ‘I’m heartbroken,’ says Afridi after being ruled out of PSL

    ‘I’m heartbroken,’ says Afridi after being ruled out of PSL

    Shahid Afridi has been ruled out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) sixth edition’s remaining matches in Abu Dhabi due to a back injury.

    The former Pakistan captain was training in Karachi for the upcoming PSL6 matches when he experienced pain in his lower back following which he was examined by a doctor who has advised him a complete rest.

    “While training for the remainder of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6, I felt lower back pain and had to consult a doctor. Unfortunately I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team Multan Sultans,” shared Afridi on social media.

    He wrote: “I am heartbroken [but] my support & prayers are with the team to take the trophy.”

    Afridi, who appeared in four Karachi-leg matches, has been replaced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi who would be joining the Sultans squad in Abu Dhabi.

    Meanwhile, Islamabad United have roped in left-handed batsman Umar Amin and West Indies opener Brandon King. The latest additions mean they have now had a complete 20-player squad.

    As per reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to restart PSL6 on June 5 in Abu Dhabi. Players are to serve 10-day quarantine in UAE.

  • Andre Russell, Martin Guptill among lead names joining PSL6 in June

    Andre Russell, Martin Guptill among lead names joining PSL6 in June

    Andre Russell and Martin Guptill are leading the names among others signed by Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises for the competition’s resumption in June.

    In an online session held last evening, franchise representatives submitted names of the players they picked as replacements of those unavailable to feature in the upcoming matches.

    West Indies allrounder Russell will join Quetta Gladiators in the absence of England international batsman Tom Banton. New Zealand’s Martin Guptill has been picked by Karachi Kings, while Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al Hasan was selected by Lahore Qalandars. Australia’s Usman Khawaja was Islamabad’s pick to replace Alex Hales. Another fascinating pick by IU is South African player Janneman Malan.

    According to details, a total of 19 overseas players were chosen in the replacement draft, with three teams – Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta and Islamabad United reserving one further selection each, to be used at a later date.

    Most of the overseas players, who were around for the first set of games before the postponement, are missing for one reason or another. The English players are going to be busy with the Vitality Blast T20 tournament. Some others are on national duty. As a result, there was a mini draft, where the teams had to pick from 134 players, from Australia (10), New Zealand (12), South Africa (18), Bangladesh (7), West Indies (25), Sri Lanka (24), Zimbabwe (6), Afghanistan (16), Ireland (5), UAE (5), Scotland (4), Nepal (1) and Oman (1)

    https://twitter.com/HBLPSL6Official/status/1387315812059525121?s=19

    The PSL 6 was postponed after 14 matches on March 4 this year after a Covid-19 outbreak was reported in the tournament’s bio-secure bubble. The remaining 20 matches of the sixth edition will now be played at Karachi’s National Stadium from June 1-20.

    Read more – PCB books 300-room hotel in Karachi for PSL6

    FULL LIST OF PSL 2021 REPLACEMENT DRAFT PICKS

    Islamabad United: Usman Khawaja replaces Alex Hales, Janneman Malan replaces Lewis Gregory

    Karachi Kings: Martin Guptill replaces Colin Ingram, Thisara Perera replaces Mohammad Nabi, Najeebullah Zadran replaces Dan Christian, Litton Das replaces Joe Clarke

    Lahore Qalandars: Shakib al Hasan replaces Rashid Khan, James Faulkner replaces David Wiese, Joe Burns replaces Samit Patel, Callum Ferguson replaces Tom Abell, Seekkuge Prasana replaces Joe Denly

    Multan Sultans: Mahmudullah replaces Chris Lynn, Rahmanullah Gurbaz replaces James Vince, George Linde replaces Adam Lyth, Obed McCoy replaces Carlos Brathwaite

    Peshawar Zalmi: Fabian Allen replaces Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rovman Powell replaces Liam Livingstone, Fidel Edwards replaces Saqib Mahmood

    Quetta Gladiators: Andre Russell replaces Tom Banton

    Meanwhile, Malan found out what ‘Janneman’ means in Urdu – sweetheart – and he aspires to become a janneman to all Pakistanis with his performances.

    “Excited to join Islamabad United. Heard so many great things about the franchise,” said Malan. “I just found out what Janneman means in Urdu. I wish to be janneman to all Pakistanis with my performances in the PSL.”

    Usman Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan, also expressed his excitement, saying: “Pretty excited to be joining Islamabad United. I have played everywhere in the subcontinent except where I was actually born. So for me, this means a little bit more.”

    “Can’t wait,” he added.

    Commenting under his tweet, England player Sam Billings encouraged the cricketer, saying: “Great franchise, go well brother.”

  • PCB books 300-room hotel in Karachi for PSL6

    PCB books 300-room hotel in Karachi for PSL6

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has booked a complete hotel for the remaining matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL 6). The 300-room hotel will accommodate all six teams, officials and commentators.

    According to details, all rooms, halls, conference rooms and restaurants will be fully managed by the PCB. Hotels, transport, ground staff and broadcasters will remain inside the bubble under COVID-19 protocols.

    PCB has also settled a deal with a British company to maintain the bio-secure bubble for PSL. The Board has prepared the agreement documents and has sent them to a UK-Based company named Restrata.

    After seeing the company’s performance in the PSL, talks will be held with the company for the country’s next cricket season.

    The bio-bubble protocols of the competition will be decided by Restrata. It will be their responsibility to fully implement the protocols, monitor and manage the bio-secure and have a response and reaction to positive tests.

    The board will formally announce the company’s deployment after they sign the agreement.

    It must be noted here that PSL 6 was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the bio-secure bubble. As many as six cricketers and a staff member had tested COVID-19 positive.

    PCB announced last week that the remaining matches of the competition will be held from June 1-20 at the National Stadium in Karachi. All participants will be required to observe a seven-day quarantine period, which will commence from May 22 in one hotel. Following three days of training sessions, HBL PSL 6 matches will resume on June 1 with the final scheduled for June 20.

  • Remaining PSL6 matches to reportedly be held in Lahore

    Remaining PSL6 matches to reportedly be held in Lahore

    Lahore has reportedly been chosen as the desired venue to host the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) sixth edition’s fixtures after five of the six franchise owners urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift the tournament there.

    According to details, in a virtual meeting chaired by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, franchise owners expressed their concerns regarding the postponement of the league after multiple COVID-19 cases emerged among players and officials.

    “Five out of the six franchises urged the PCB to shift the remaining matches of the PSL 2021 to Lahore,” a PCB official told a local media publication.

    While the Government of Punjab has given the green signal to host the fixtures, a final decision regarding the matter will be taken in the next meeting which is going to be held in the coming days.

    Lahore was originally scheduled to host 14 of the 34 matches of the PSL 6 from March 10 onwards, which included the final of the competition.

    Meanwhile, in the same meeting, the franchise owners complained about their lack of involvement in the planning of the tournament. They also demanded to be taken into confidence over the bio-secure bubble for the remaining fixtures.

    Chairman Mani assured the franchise owners that there will be nothing to complain in future.

    PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and Director Commercial Babar Hamid also attended the meeting.

    The Board is to complete the sixth edition most likely by June because the national team will be touring England for an ODI and T20I series and from there it will fly to the West Indies. On their return, Pakistan will host England and New Zealand from September, leaving no room for PCB to organise the event at a later stage.

    The official said there was also a possibility of PSL resuming later this month in case of postponement of the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

  • Peshawar Zalmi chase down 194 with an over to spare

    Peshawar Zalmi has chased down 194 runs with an over to spare, beating Multan Sultans with six wickets in the fifth fixture of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) sixth edition at the city’s National Stadium.

    After putting 193-4 on the board, thanks to James Vince’s 84 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 41, the Sultans felt confident that they had enough on a pitch that had been favouring bowlers.

    Openers Kamran Akmal (37) and Imam-ul-Haq (48) provided a solid foundation, upon which Tom Kohler-Cadmore (53) capitalised and, when in the end some late hitting was needed, the young Haider Ali, chipped in with an unbeaten 24 off 8 to get his side over the line.

    With his much needed half century, Cadmore became man of the match.

  • PSL 6 kicks off with a star studded opening ceremony

    The opening ceremony of PSL season 6 was held in National Stadium Karachi, which was reportedly recorded in Istanbul. The ceremony started with the National Anthem followed by performances from Atif Aslam, rapper Imran Khan and Humaima Malik alongside the PSL 2021 anthem stars — Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig, and Young Stunners.

    It was Atif Aslam’s debut performance in an opening ceremony of PSL.

    Addressing the opening ceremony PCB’s chairman Ehsan Mani said, “This year’s PSL is being played in only Karachi and Lahore and due to coronavirus 7,500 people will be able to [attend matches in] Karachi and 5,500 in Lahore,” He also thanked the fans for making PSL Pakistan’s “biggest brand”.

    Here’s how Pakistani Twitter reacted to the opening ceremony :

    https://twitter.com/iawais5/status/1363132729777414144

    After the opening ceremony, the first match of the tournament was played between the defending champions Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators, which was won by Karachi Kings by seven wickets.

  • Fans celebrate after Multan Sultans announce Rizwan as captain

    Mohammad Rizwan has replaced Shan Masood as the captain of Multan Sultans for the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Rizwan, who is Pakistan’s Test vice-captain, was part of Karachi Kings in the last edition but was inducted in the Multan Sultans’ squad in the silver category during the players draft in January.

    He was controversially included in the playing XI for Karachi in PSL 2020 on only two occasions with Chadwick Walton preferred over him to perform the wicketkeeping duties throughout the franchise’s title-winning campaign.

    Read more – ‘Shallow-minded approach exposed,’ says Hafeez after Sarfaraz criticises him for comments on Rizwan

    Reacting to his appointment, Rizwan said: “I look forward to leading the Multan Sultans team for the upcoming season. I have understood the innovative approach the franchise applied last season and am looking forward to playing my part this year.”

    “Multan Sultans had a successful PSL 5 and we will aspire to go even better this time around especially with senior Pakistani players like Shahid Afridi, Shan Masood and Sohail Tanvir to look up to,” he added.

    Rizwan recently became the second Pakistan batsman to score a century in T20 internationals when he racked up the triple-figure score in the first match against South Africa in Lahore on Thursday.

    He followed the match-winning contribution with 51 and 42 in the subsequent games to be declared player of the series as Pakistan prevailed in the T20I assignment 2-1.

    Rizwan has been in a similar blazing run of form in the longest format as he smacked his maiden Test century in the Rawalpindi encounter against South Africa. The 28-year-old was also Pakistan’s stand-in Test captain in the The Nw Zealand tour when regular skipper Babar Azam missed the series owing to a thumb fracture.

    Additionally, Rizwan boasts leadership credentials in the domestic circuit and was in charge of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as they clinched the National T20 Cup title in October 2020.

    “Mohammad Rizwan has shown exemplary leadership qualities with the Pakistan team as well as with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the domestic tournaments,” said Multan Sultans owner Alamgir Khan Tareen.

    “He is presently one of the very best in the world in his position and we are excited to have him lead our team for the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League. We are grateful to Shan Masood for leading the franchise exceptionally well last season and for instilling a winning mentality within the team.”

    After two years of fifth-spot finishes since their entry into the PSL system, Multan topped the six-team table under Shan in the 2020 edition. However, a couple of defeats in the delayed PSL playoffs meant Multan could not reach the final.

    Meanwhile, Rizwan’s fans are celebrating his appointment on social media and lauding Multan Sultans for taking his decision.

    https://twitter.com/MaharSpeaks/status/1361288157459791873?s=20

    https://twitter.com/Shahzad29719575/status/1361251256560472067?s=19