Tag: PSL 2022

  • Shahid Afridi praises Shahnawaz Dahani for ‘incredible potential’, Dahani reacts

    Shahid Afridi praises Shahnawaz Dahani for ‘incredible potential’, Dahani reacts

    Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has praised young Multan Sultans’ pacer Shahnawaz Dahani for his performance in the Qualifier match of Pakistan Super League (PSL). Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars with 28 runs to reach the Final for the second consecutive time on Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    Taking to Twitter, Afridi lauded “champions” Multan Sultans for their outstanding performance. While talking about Dahani, he wrote: “So pleased to see Dahani deliver to his incredible potential today just the way he performed last year.”

    Replying to Afridi, Dahani said: “It’s always pleasing to receive an appreciation from a legend like you Lala @SAfridiOfficial bhai. Thank you so much for your wishes for our team @MultanSultans & kind words for me.”

    Before the Qualifier match, Afridi had advised Dahani to focus on his game rather than wasting time on celebrations. “First you do something in life and then celebrate like that. It will have more impact then,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.

    Dahani picked up three crucial wickets of Harry Brook (13), Phil Salt (1) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1) to finish with figures three of 19. He was given Player of the Match award for his outstanding figures.

    He also took a sublime catch of Samit Patel to bring the match closer into Sultans’ grasp.

    Now the Sultans will take Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi or Lahore Qalandars in the final of PSL 2022 on February 27.

    Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer and Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis took to his Twitter to laud the young pacer.

    “Impossible to catch Dhani @ShahnawazDahani when he’s on the roll. Wonderful spell of bowling and exceptional energy on the field,” Waqar wrote.

    Waqar also congratulated Multan and Mohammad Rizwan for reaching the Final.

  • Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Rizwan power Multan Sultans into second consecutive final

    Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Rizwan power Multan Sultans into second consecutive final

    Defending champions Multan Sultans have reserved a place in the Final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the second consecutive time after defeating Lahore Qalandars with 28 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.

    Rilee Rossouw and Mohammad Rizwan stroked unbeaten half-centuries to help Multan collect 163/2 in 20 overs after they were 65/2 at the halfway stage.

    Qalandars were cruising nicely at 102/3 in the 14th over before they suffered a collapse and ultimately finished at 135/9. While Sultans qualified for Sunday’s final, Qalandars have another opportunity to reach their second title match in three years when they will play the winner of Peshawar Zalmi-Islamabad United on Friday (February 25).

    Rossouw struck seven fours and a six in his 42-ball 65 not out, while Rizwan scored a 51-ball 53 not out with three fours. Rizwan added 47 runs for the second wicket with Aamer Azmat (33), while he put on 113 runs for the unfinished third wicket with Rossouw.

    For Qalandars, Mohammad Hafeez and Samit Patel took a wicket each. In turn, Qalandars lost their way following the departure of Harry Brook (13) as they lost six wickets for 33 in just six overs to finish at 135/9.

    Fakhar Zaman scored an entertaining 63 off 45 balls with two fours and four sixes, including three successive sixes off Imran Tahir. He added 54 runs for the fourth wicket with Harry Brook.

    Shahnawaz Dahani was the star for Sultans with the ball. He grabbed the crucial wickets of Brook (13), Phil Salt (1) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1) to finish with figures three of 19. David Willey bagged two for 23, while Asif Afridi and Khushdil Shah bagged a wicket each.

    Dahani bagged Player of the Match award for his prolific bowling figures.

  • Multan Sultans’ key batter Tim David tests positive for Covid-19

    Multan Sultans’ key batter Tim David tests positive for Covid-19

    Multan Sultans’ key player Tim David has tested positive for Covid-19, reported Geo News.

    This can be a major blow to the Sultans who are leading the points table with 18 points in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Tim has been a key player in the team as the Australian sensational six-hitting machine is leading the chart for most sixes in PSL 2022 so far. He has hit 20 sixes for Sultans.

    The 25-year-old had also smacked second joint-fastest 50 of PSL. He scored 50 in the 13th match of the tournament against Peshawar Zalmi.

    The report said that the player’s test returned positive during routine PCR testing. The team management, however, has neither confirmed nor denied the news.

    It is pertinent to mention here that it was reported that Peshawar Zalmi players Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, and Sohail Khan had also tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

    Multan is set to play Qualifier 1 with Lahore Qalandars today (Wednesday) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Whoever wins the match today will directly qualify for the Final, scheduled to be played on February 27 at the same venue.

  • Lahore loses to Peshawar in Super Over despite Shaheen’s heroics

    Lahore loses to Peshawar in Super Over despite Shaheen’s heroics

    Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s heroics went in vain after Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars lost their match on Monday at the hands of Peshawar Zalmi in the Super Over in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

    Lahore required 23 runs off the final over to win the game when Shaheen Afridi produced a batting master-class. He thrashed the young fast bowler Muhammad Umer for three sixes and a four and took the game to Super Over.

    He scored 39 runs off 20 balls in his prolific inning.

    Despite the brilliant batting display from Shaheen, Peshawar Zalmi won the game in the Super Over. Wahab Riaz, giving away only five runs in the Super Over, paved the way for his teams’ victory, and the veteran Shoaib Malik finished the job with two fours of the first two balls of Shaheen’s Super Over.

    Both Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi have qualified for the playoffs of PSL 7, along with Multan Sultans and Islamabad United.

    Lahore will face Multan Sultans in Qualifier 1 while Peshawar Zalmi will be up locking horns with Islamabad United in Eliminator 1 of the league.

  • ‘Wada James Blond, Badtameez’: Ahmed Ali Butt slams James Faulkner for being ‘unprofessional’

    ‘Wada James Blond, Badtameez’: Ahmed Ali Butt slams James Faulkner for being ‘unprofessional’

    Actor, Ahmed Ali Butt took to his Instagram handle to lash out at Australian cricketer, James Faulkner who was accused of misconduct by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over a payment dispute for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) event.

    Butt wrote, “Glad to hear that PCB is not going to pay the remaining dues to this unprofessional. Baki Chandler aur kamray ka bill is kay credit card per charge kero! (Charge a bill of Chandler and room from his credit card) WADA James Blond! #Badtameez #JamesFaulkner.”

    Read More – Ahmad Ali Butt, Bilal Qureshi school Aamir Liaquat and Syeda Dania for sharing bedroom videos

    The cricketer threw his bat and helmet from the lobby in aggression when the negotiations failed between PCB and Faulkner on Friday.

    He left the PSL event midway after a bitter confrontation with PCB and damaged the hotel property.

    He accused PCB of not honouring contractual agreements/payments. Whereas, PCB and Quetta Gladiators (the team from which he was playing) denied all allegations and released an official press release explaining the matter in detail.

    In wake of misbehaviour and unprofessional attitude, PCB and franchise unanimously agreed that James Faulkner will not be drafted in future HBL Pakistan Super League ‘s events.

  • Shoaib Akhtar reacts to viral picture of Pakistani holding Virat Kohli’s poster in PSL matches

    Shoaib Akhtar reacts to viral picture of Pakistani holding Virat Kohli’s poster in PSL matches

    Former Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has reacted to a viral picture of a Pakistani fan of former Indian all-format captain Virat Kohli, who was holding Kohli’s posters in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

    Akhtar took to Twitter and shared the picture of the Pakistani fan, saying: “Someone spreading love at the #GaddafiStadium.”

    The fan’s picture has gone viral on social media when he was noticed holding the picture of Kohli with the phrases, “I want to see your [Kohli] century in Pakistan #Peace.”

    Meanwhile, Kohli has been rested from the T20I series with Sri Lanka which will start from February 24. While he is part of the currently on-going three-match T20I series against West Indies, in which he even scored a half-century on Sunday.

  • ‘Will come back stronger’: Babar Azam’s note after unsuccessful PSL stint

    ‘Will come back stronger’: Babar Azam’s note after unsuccessful PSL stint

    Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, who was leading Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings for the first time, did not have a great season this year and Kings lost nine out of 10 matches in this year’s edition, making an unwanted record.

    After their last defeat by the hands of Quetta Gladiators, Babar took to Twitter and penned a note in which he pledged to “come back stronger”.

    “We did not hold up our end. Lots to reflect, learn & improve from this entire experience of #PSL7. In sha Allah, we will come back stronger. Also, quite grateful to all the fans for their immense support and belief,” he tweeted.

    Karachi Kings was not only the team to have the longest streak of defeats with eight consecutive losses in the tournament but it created another unwanted PSL record on Sunday after losing to Quetta Gladiators.

    The Gladiators thrashed Kings by 23 runs in match 28 of the PSL at the Gaddafi Stadium, after which the team was also eliminated from the race to the playoffs in the tournament, with only two points in 10 games.

  • Multan Sultans first team of PSL to win nine matches in group stages

    Multan Sultans first team of PSL to win nine matches in group stages

    Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans has made a record of PSL history after becoming the first team to win nine out of 10 matches in the group stage of the league.

    Read More – Sultans’ skipper Mohammad Rizwan adds another record to his name

    After defeating Islamabad United on Sunday by six wickets, defending champions Multan Sultans produced another stellar all-round performance to finish the double-league round-robin stage of the PSL 7.

    United set an easy 106-run chase, Sultans had crashed to 43 for four in 7.2 overs as Dawson followed-up on his 22-run batting contribution with three wickets in his opening spell with the new ball.

    Skipper Mohammad Rizwan came to his side’s rescue with an unbeaten inning of 51 off 42 balls.

    Rizwan added 68 runs in the unbroken fifth-wicket stand with David Willey who made 28 off 32. Rizwan finished the match with a majestic six over the extra cover boundary that took him past his 50.

    Sultans finished their chase with 16 balls to spare.

    Meanwhile, Rizwan is at number two in the PSL 7 batting charts with 479 runs behind Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman, who has scored 521 runs.

    Multan will be playing the Qualifier match on Wednesday with Qalandars or Zalmi, whoever ends on the second spot of the table.

    United will be playing Eliminator 1 against Qalandars or Zalmi on Thursday.

  • PCB, Quetta Gladiators deny Faulkner’s ‘baseless allegations’

    PCB, Quetta Gladiators deny Faulkner’s ‘baseless allegations’

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Quetta Gladiators have issued the following statement after James Faulkner made “baseless allegations” of non-payment and mistreatment during the Pakistan Super League(PSL) 2022.

    PCB’s statement says, “The PCB and Quetta Gladiators are disappointed and dismayed with the reprehensible behavior of James Faulkner, who was also part of the Abu Dhabi-leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League in 2021, and, along with all participants, has always been treated with utmost respect.”

    “In the seven years of the Pakistan Super League, no player has ever complained about the nonfulfillment of the PCB’s contractual obligations,” it added.

    “Instead, all players have only praised and appreciated the efforts of the PCB to make their stay, appearance and participation as comfortable as practically possible. This is evident that from the fact that most of these cricketers have continued to be part of the PCB’s marquee event since 2016 and have helped the PCB to make the HBL PSL a strong and formidable brand as it stands today.”

    “Without going into the history of James Faulkner’s misconduct over the past many years that has also resulted in his fallout with other teams, below is a brief summary of some of the undisputed facts:

    • In December 2021, James Faulkner’s agent confirmed the United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action.

    • In January 2022, for reasons best known to Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of his onshore account in Australia. However, the contracted 70 per cent of Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Faulkner.

    • Accordingly, his payments as per his contract are fully up to date.

    • The remaining 30 per cent of his contractual payment only becomes due 40 days after the completion of the Pakistan Super League 2022, which now remains a matter to be reviewed in line with his contract.

    • In spite of the money being transferred and received in his account, Faulkner continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia. This meant Faulkner would have been paid twice.

    • He further threatened and refused to participate in his side’s match against Multan Sultans on Friday afternoon until his money demands were met.

    • The PCB, as a responsible organisation, engaged with Faulkner early Friday afternoon in an attempt to reason with him. Despite his reprehensible and insulting behaviour during the conversation, Faulkner was assured that all his grievances would be addressed. He refused to reconsider his decision to take the field in a crucial match for his side, let his team down and demanded that his travel arrangements be immediately made.

    • During this time, the PCB was also in constant contact with his agent, who was regretful and apologetic.

    • Prior to his departure on Saturday morning, Faulkner caused deliberate damage to the hotel property and as a result had to pay damages to the hotel management. The PCB later received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport.

    “In wake of the above, and taking serious note of James Faulkner’s gross misconduct that was an attempt to bring the PCB, Pakistan cricket and the HBL Pakistan Super League into disrepute, it has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that James Faulkner will not be drafted in future HBL Pakistan Super League events.”

  • James Faulkner leaves PSL prematurely, accuses PCB of not honouring agreed payments, PCB denies

    James Faulkner leaves PSL prematurely, accuses PCB of not honouring agreed payments, PCB denies

    Australian cricketer James Faulkner has left the Pakistan Super League (PSL) prematurely over a payment dispute, saying the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t honoured the contractually agreed payments and has instead “continued to lie” to him.

    Faulkner, who has not played Quetta Gladiators’ last three games, was understood to have grown increasingly agitated over the matter. Faulkner had been negotiating with the PCB over the due payments, with things getting so heated on Friday that he threw his bat and helmet from the lobby floor balcony onto a chandelier after a discussion with a PCB official before leaving for the airport.

    Earlier today, he posted two tweets apologising to Pakistan cricket fans and calling his treatment at the hands of the PCB and the PSL “a disgrace”.

    “I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me. It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20. I’m sure you all understand my position.”

    The PCB issued a brief statement saying they had “regretfully taken note of Mr James Faulkner’s false and misleading accusations” and that the board would shortly release a detailed statement.

    Traditionally, the PCB has always dealt with making player payments initially before recovering the money from the franchises, which may explain why Faulkner’s primary grievance lies with the PCB rather than his franchise. Gladiators distanced themselves from the issue, telling ESPNcricinfo the Australian’s payment dispute was with the PCB.

    Faulkner played six PSL games this season, taking six wickets and scoring 49 runs.