Tag: PSL Franchise

  • Rashid Khan opens up about his availability for PSL final

    Rashid Khan opens up about his availability for PSL final

    Reports of Rashid Khan coming back to Pakistan and representing Lahore Qalandars in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 7 were circulating on social media on Friday. The Afghan star player opened up about it and clarified that he would not be available due to “national duty”.

    Taking to Twitter, Rashid Khan wrote: ”It would’ve been great to be part of Lahore Qalandars and play alongside lads in the PSL T20 final.”

    “I won’t be able to make it for the finals due to National Duty which is always a first priority,” he added.

    He extended best wishes for Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Afridi, Sameen Rana and the team.

    On February 20, the Qalandars’ right-arm spinner had left the PSL franchise to join his national squad for the ODI and T20I series against Bangladesh.

    He had received a befitting farewell from his teammates and from Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the defending champions Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars will lock horns on Sunday for the PSL title.

  • Lahore’s Fakhar Zaman makes new record in PSL, leaves Babar behind

    Lahore’s Fakhar Zaman makes new record in PSL, leaves Babar behind

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars’ batter Fakhar Zaman has registered a new record to his name and has left Babar Azam behind him after scoring the most runs in a PSL edition.

    In the ongoing PSL 2022 matches, in the match against Multan Sultans, Zaman broke Azam’s record of 554 runs in 2021 PSL.

    The swashbuckling opener made a staggering 63-run knock and his innings was laced with two fours and four maximum, which increased his runs to 584 runs in PSL 2022 while Multan Sultans’ skipper Mohammad Rizwan is right behind him with 532 runs to his name.

    Earlier, Zaman achieved the milestone of becoming the second-highest run-getter in the entire history of PSL after racking up 1,935 runs.

    Sultans made 163 for the loss of two wickets in their innings while in reply, Qalandars were cruising nicely at 102/3 in the 14th over before they suffered a collapse and ultimately finished at 135/9.

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

    The half-century against Multan was Fakhar’s 8th score of 50 so far in this edition of PSL, which is also the most numbers of 50+ scores in a single edition of PSL.

    Previously, the record was with Babar who had seven scores of 50.

    Interestingly, Multan Sultans’ Mohammad Rizwan has also scored 7 scores of 50 this season, and he can break Fakhar Zaman’s record.

  • ‘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.

  • 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.

  • Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    After a huge amount of criticism on social media, former Pakistan pacer and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings’ president Wasim Akram responded to the backlash and has clarified what exactly he was saying to captain Babar Azam in the match against Multan Sultans.

    Read More – ‘Aap log dil bura na kareyn’: Babar Azam’s father comes to son’s defence

    Taking to Twitter, Akram wrote: “Hello! Surprised to see reactions on my talking to Babar at the boundary last night. What I was saying was ‘why our bowlers are not bowling yorkers or slower ones offside off’. Nothing else.”

    He further added that Babar is a “wonderful boy” and has tried his best.

    Wasim Akram said that he asked Babar about what he will have for dinner.

    Earlier, a video of Wasim and Babar was doing the rounds on social media, in which the veteran cricketer can be seen talking harshly to the Pakistan skipper.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that Kings lost their eighth consecutive match by the hands of Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.

  • Quetta’s Jason Roy fined for breach of code of conduct

    Quetta’s Jason Roy fined for breach of code of conduct

    Quetta Gladiators’ batter Jason Roy has been fined five per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct during his team’s eight-wicket defeat against Lahore Qalandars in the 20th match of PSL 7 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.

    Roy was found to have violated Article 2.21 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute”, following his reaction after he was adjudged caught behind by Asif Yaqoob off Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    In the video, posted by PSL official Twitter account, he can be seen misbehaving with the umpire despite the fact that he had the option to challenge the umpire’s decision of giving him out.

    England’s cricketer accepted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed to be imposed by Roshan Mahanama and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

    The charges were levelled by the on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Waleeed Yaqoob.

    All first-time offences of Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning and/or imposition of a fine of up to 25% of the applicable match fee.

    It was also reported that Roy had reported Shaheen’s bowling action but the reports were denied by the Quetta Gladiators.

  • ‘Na Jaa Yar’: Sarfaraz Ahmed disheartened after Mohammad Nawaz’s injury

    ‘Na Jaa Yar’: Sarfaraz Ahmed disheartened after Mohammad Nawaz’s injury

    Quetta Gladiators all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz’s injury left team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed disheartened as he expressed his sadness on Twitter.

    Taking to Twitter Sarfaraz wrote: “Na jaa yar. (Don’t go mate). Get well soon.”

    Replying to his team’s captain, Nawaz said: “I wish skipper. Ameen.”

    On Friday, Gladiators suffered a huge blow as Nawaz was ruled out of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) seventh edition due to an injury.

    Nawaz’s injury was another big setback as earlier pacer Mohammad Husnain was banned.

    After his injury, Nawaz took to Twitter and wrote: “I’m absolutely gutted on leaving my team during @thePSLt20 due to an ankle injury. Now I’ll be cheering for #PurpleForce from my home @TeamQuetta.”

    According to reports, Nawaz has suffered a navicular bone nondisplaced fracture.

    Ever since the first PSL edition in 2016, Nawaz has been an instrumental part in Gladiators’ success both with the bat and ball, as well as with some great fielding as well.

    Gladiators are yet to play some crucial PSL matches as Sarfaraz-led side is still struggling to get into the play-offs. They have played five matches and only won two out of them.

    Meanwhile, the former champions will be locking horns with Islamabad today (Saturday) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

  • ‘A remarkable start in Khi’: Rizwan on five out of five wins

    ‘A remarkable start in Khi’: Rizwan on five out of five wins

    Pakistan’s wicket-keeper-batter and captain of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans has turned to his social media after winning five out of five matches in the Karachi leg of PSL 7. He has also thanked all team members and the management of the franchise for their contribution to the victorious start.

    “Alhumdulillah 5/5. A remarkable start in Khi by @MultanSultans in @thePSLt20. Each member of this team is a match-winner. Grateful to entire management, coaching staff & owners for the trust, support and freedom to operate,” he said in a tweet.

    He also promised to repeat the winning streak in Lahore as well. He added: “One game at a time, Champs!”

    While in a later tweet, Rizwan thanked his fans and requested them to remember Sultans in their prayers.

    Sultans crushed Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday with a 57-run victory. Zalmi didn’t have a good beginning to the mammoth 223 run-chase.

    Multan was given a solid opening start of 85 runs from Shan Masood and Rizwan, which provided a solid foundation for a huge total. Afterwards, it was Tim David’s blistering innings that stole the show.

    Rizwan bagged the Player of the Match award for his prolific 82-run inning.

    For Sultans, Imran Tahir and Shahnawaz Dahani were able to take three wickets, while Blessing Muzarabani and Abbas Afridi took a wicket each.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Afridi denies rumours of request to be rested

    EXCLUSIVE: Afridi denies rumours of request to be rested

    Pakistan’s star all-rounder Shahid Afridi has denied the rumours of his request of being given rest. Earlier, The News reported that Afridi had requested Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators to give him rest for some days after a bad spell against Islamabad United on Thursday.

    Shahid Afridi told The Current that he has not asked to be rested, in fact, he is anxiously looking forward to the next matches.

    Afridi had conceded 67 runs in a four-over spell against Islamabad United on Thursday and became the most expensive bowling figure in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Earlier, Islamabad United’s Zafar Gohar held the record of conceding the most runs, 65.

    It was also reported that Afridi did not attend the practice session at the High-Performance Centre, the report added.

    On February 3, Afridi, who had returned to the squad after completing Covid-19 isolation, could not bowl up to mark.

    Read More – Shahid Afridi recovers from Covid-19, announce Quetta Gladiators

    The former Pakistan skipper bowled a total of four overs, where he conceded 67 runs and managed to take only one wicket. His most expensive over was the last over (20th), where he conceded 20 runs.

    It should be noted that this was Afridi’s first match of his farewell PSL, after missing the initial games due to Covid-19, but was thrashed by the United batters Colin Munro and Azam Khan during his four-over spell.

    Twitterati extended support to the all-round cricketer.

    https://twitter.com/mmustafa_abid/status/1489307976364175365?t=dHvv5PdY5wu5V5b6qVoVdw&s=19