................... Sarfraz Ahmed whips the bails off to stump Kushdil Shah, Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, PSL 2016-17, final, Lahore, Peshawar Zalmi 148/6 (20/20 over) Quetta Gladiators 13/2 (4.1/20 over) Quetta Gladiators require another 136 runs with 8 wickets and 15.5 overs remaining Quetta Gladiators RR 3.12 Required RR 8.58 Peshawar Zalmi RR 7.40 http://embedstream.com/live-cricket-stream-ptvsports.php Peshawar Zalmi 148/6 (20/20 over) Quetta Gladiators 31/4
Cricket: The new young guns The national selectors should be mighty pleased at the way the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has panned out. The great benefit of franchise-based T20 leagues across the globe has been unearthing new gems of the game and the PSL has been no exception. The first edition in 2016 threw up Hasan Ali, the right-arm paceman who is now gradually cementing a place in the Pakistan limited-overs side. Babar Azam is another young man to have emerged from the inaugural event — he is arguably the brightest batting prospect since Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq came along all those years ago. The third guy to hit the straps a year ago was Mohammad Asghar. A left-arm spinner with huge palms, Asghar is yet to get a taste of international cricket but he could be very close. He was last sent to Australia as a reinforcement but didn’t get the elusive opportunity to represent Pakistan. He remains in the mix to make history as the first Test player from the largely-neglected province of Balochistan. Anyway, this time round, the young ones have been on the mark once again in the PSL. All five franchises have been able to showcase at least one exceptionally good young talent but there are six young guns who have taken Pakistan by surprise. Like PSL Season 1, PSL 2 has thrown up its own crop of ‘emerging players’ who have impressed and staked a claim for consideration in the national side The most dazzling example of this is a pair of 18-year-olds, Shadab Khan and Hassaan Khan, who only a year ago were team-mates in the Pakistan youth squad that reached the last-four phase of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. Shadab and Hassaan are not related to each other but they ooze sheer confidence. One is a leg-spinner and the other a purveyor of left-arm spin. Both are good enough to develop into fine all-round cricketers who Pakistan can be proud of in the years to come. In Usman Khan Shinwari and Usama Mir, Karachi Kings certainly boast of two young ones who have done well enough to merit space. The same holds true for Lahore Qalandars’ duo of Fakhar Zaman and the gangling Mohammad Irfan Jr — not to be confused with that giant of international cricket who plays for Islamabad United. An honourable mention for Islamabad United’s 20-year-old batsman Hussain Talat. Although he wasn’t utilised from the start of the tournament, he sparkled on his debut against Quetta Gladiators by scoring a dazzling 56. That innings drew comparisons with Kumar Sangakkara from commentators Alan Wilkins and Ian Bishop. Talat has been playing since the age of 16. He made his first-class debut two months shy of his 17th birthday in October, 2013. This was after making his debut in one-day and T20 formats at the national level earlier that year. PSL Season 3 could well be his breakthrough season.
PSL 2017 concludes successfully, hopes high for International Cricket Finally! Pakistan witnessed the final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 in Lahore, proving to the world that nothing and no one can take cricket out of our country. PCB successfully conducted PSL Final at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, a declaration that Pakistan is ready to bring back international cricket. It has been nearly eight years since Pakistan has enjoyed a mega cricket event in the country. It was previously decided that the final of PSL second season will be played in Lahore but the recent terrorist attacks, killing more than 100 people, gave birth to security challenges. Despite the foreign players pulled out of the teams (except the members of Peshawar Zalmi), PSL final concluded with much zeal and love from the citizens. PSL final preparations were in full swing from more than a week, where measures were taken to ensure the security of fans and cricketers as well. DIG Operations, Haider Ashraf last week shared the security plan for the stadium and later that week City Traffic Police Lahore revealed the traffic plan for people, to avoid any inconvenience on the big day. CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif also kept an eye on all the arrangements to make sure everything was up to the mark. The successful conclusion to Pakistan Super League looks promising to revive international cricket in Pakistan. Here are some highlights of the final match:
A beautiful article in Urdu. https://jang.com.pk/print/278866-hafeez-ullah-niazi-column-2017-03-08-psl-finnal-pagalpan-hi-to-hay
https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/345041 Chris Jordan reflects on winning the Pakistan Super League final PSL Chris Jordan played his part in a remarkable night in Lahore as Peshawar Zalmi won the second edition of the Pakistan Super League in front of a packed house. The Sussex and England man reflected on a whirlwind few days in Pakistan, and his decision to play a match many overseas players turned down. “It was pretty surreal! Obviously from making the decision to go, we were well briefed and everything was well documented about how everything was going to run from the time we left on the plane from Dubai to the time we got back.” said Jordan “As soon as we landed in Lahore, we were met by military guys, escorted straight onto a bus and had a 10-minute drive to the hotel with a full escort. The road was cordoned off and no-one was on the streets - it was a bit unreal!” he added Reflecting on trip from Hong Kong, Jordan was pleased he made the decision to travel to the final. “I was glad I was able to be there and experience it. I’ll be able to say I played cricket in Pakistan and won the trophy. It was a brilliant experience.” said Jordan The Lahore fans welcome back cricket to Pakistan The Lahore fans welcome back cricket to Pakistan “The reception we got said it all. They cheered every single ball for both teams, from ball one to the last. Their passion for cricket was immense. You’re on the boundary and you have people chanting your name!” “It was immense and I had no idea that the passion for cricket was so great in Pakistan. The crowd in Lahore were brilliant - they really made the final.” Winning the Pakistan Super League Final required a team performance and the Sussex man was keen to praise the leadership of the Peshawar Zalmi squad and the unity within the group “Throughout the whole tournament we’ve really been gelling as a group and our owner Javed Afridi and the captain Darren Sammy - everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet and created a very good atmosphere in the dressing room to go out and perform.” “It didn’t matter who was playing at any time in the tournament, because I didn’t play all the games, but it was a real team effort and I really felt part of something special.” Jordan’s accomplished T20 performances for Sussex Sharks and England have not gone unnoticed around the world. A Big Bash League contract with Adelaide Strikers this winter followed a successful overseas stint at the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bangalore, who lost the IPL final in 2016. Jordan spoke favourably about the quality of cricket on show in the tournament, and the players online: “In terms of the standard, I think it was very high. Every single team had some high quality overseas players and also the local talent was very, very good. It’s good they had a rule that each team had to play one emerging player, so you have a youngster coming through all the time.” said Jordan “If you check all the overseas players you had the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Kevin Pietersen, Brendon McCullum, Sunil Narine, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan, the list goes on. The competition was very high. There were a lot of last over and last ball finishes.” he added “There were some very exciting games and that’s what made it so competitive and a great spectacle. In comparison to all the other leagues it was right up there in terms of putting yourself in pressure situations and having to deliver for your team.” With a number of England stars playing in the tournament, Jordan was able to enjoy pitting his wits against some familiar faces: “It was brilliant, I had just come from India playing the T20 series with them. Eoin Morgan was on my team but playing against Jason Roy and Sam Billings and Tymal Mills and the rest was good fun. We had good fun on the field and there was a little bit of banter flying around.” said Jordan “It was good to see all the English guys carry on the good form they’ve had throughout the year - it can only bode well for English cricket guys going to these tournaments, playing in high pressure situations and improving their game in a short space of time.” he added. With the English season rapidly approaching Jordan’s winter of globetrotting has moved to Hong Kong where he will take part in the T20 Blitz competition. He is however looking forward to a return to Sussex, a more experienced cricketer. “I’ve had a brilliant winter so far. I’ve been fortunate enough to play in a couple of different leagues and experience different cultures and experience guys with different ideas and play with some real high quality players.” said Jordan I think from that point of view my game has improved in a short space of time, from the Big Bash to going to India for the T20 series, then the PSL and now Hong Kong. I’m very much looking forward to getting back and getting started with the English summer.
This is a old post but nothing can distract us from our country beloved league PSL which is favorite of every Pakistani. I am happy that its final was held in Pakistan in a very peaceful manner.
