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ARY NEWS

Shahid Hashmi

  • PSL: Sohaib Maqsood fires at the right time

    PSL: Sohaib Maqsood fires at the right time

    Pakistan discard Sohaib Maqsood notched the highest individual score of this year’s Pakistan Super League to a fighting 19-run victory in the second leg of Pakistan Super League in Dubai on Tuesday.

    Maqsood’s 42-ball 85 were laced with seven sixes and four boundaries which led Multan Sultans to improve their own best total in this year’s tournament of 179-5 to 183-3 on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.

    Peshawar did try valiantly through Mohammad Hafeez’s 41-ball 56 with five fours and two sixes and Liam Dawson’s 16-ball 32 with three sixes but finished at 164-8 in their 20 overs.

    Multan Sultans held their nerves as Sohail Tanvir bowled a superb penultimate over, dismissing Dawson and Hammad Azam in conceding just two runs.

    Tanveer finished with 3-14 in his four overs while Mohammad Irfan took 2-32 in his four overs.

    Irfan had rocked Peshawar by claiming Kamran Akmal (nine) while Tanvir had Andre Fletcher caught behind for 11. Hafeez added 49 for the fourth wicket with Rikki Wessels who made 22 but asking rate continued to climb as Peshawar needed a big 68 in the last five overs.

    Peshawar were depleted by the absence of Bangladeshi pair of Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman while Khalid Usman was dropped, bringing in Andre Fletcher, Rikki Wessels and Hammad Azam while Multan kept the same team for the fifth match running.

    Multan, sent into bat by Peshawar, were bolstered by two steady partnerships between Ahmed Shehzad and Kumar Sangakkara for 51 runs and then another 56 for the second wicket between Shehzad and Maqsood.

    Sangakkara hit two sixes and two boundaries in his 24-ball 28 before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Liam Dawson. Shehzad hit three boundaries in his run-a-ball 37 before he and Maqsood ended up at the striker’s end in attempt of a single.

    Maqsood completed his half century off just 29 balls, reaching the mark with two sixes and a boundary off Umaid Asif’s over. He then smashed two sixes and a four off Sameen Gul as Multan notched up 121 in the last ten overs.

    Peshawar Zalmi pace attack of Gul, Umaid, Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz conceded 165 runs in 16 overs while the only bright spot was Dawson whose four overs for just 17.

    Multan Sultans will again be in action as they meet Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday.

  • Islamabad United’s Andre Russell out of PSL

    Islamabad United’s Andre Russell out of PSL

    DUBAI: West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell is out of Pakistan Super League (PSL) after suffering a freak hamstring injury which needs at least two weeks’ rest, sources said Tuesday.

    The 29-year-old all-rounder had to leave the field after suffering a hamstring injury while fielding in the match against Karachi Kings at Sharjah on Sunday and was unable to bowl and bat in the match.

    He is likely to recover from the injury in time to play for Kolkatta Knight Riders after he was retained by the franchise. The IPL starts on April 7.

    Russell , who missed last year’s PSL due to a ban on doping whereabouts clause, had managed four wickets in the three games and had scores of 11, nought and 15. His best contribution came in the Super over against Lahore when he hit a six off the last ball.

    Islamabad United vice captain Rumman Raees is also sidelined with a leg injury and will not be available for Thursday’s game against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai.

    Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was also carrying a hamstring injury as he missed the first two matches while leg-spinner Shadab Khan is also carrying niggles, mainly elbow problem.

    Read More: Andre Russell gets year ban for doping breach

  • Zalmi hope for reversal of fortunes against Multan Sultans

    Zalmi hope for reversal of fortunes against Multan Sultans

    DUBAI: Title holders Peshawar Zalmi will seek reversal of fortunes against Multan Sultans as the second round of matches in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) starts in Dubai on Tuesday (today).

    Peshawar Zalmi lost to Multan Sultans by seven wickets in the opening match of the third edition of the PSL and a defeat by the newest team had hurt the defending champions which won the title in Lahore last year. But since losing the first game Peshawar have revived their campaign by winning three of their next four games.

    Despite losing their Bangladesh duo of Tamim Iqbal and Shabbir Rahman, Zalmi will hope the replacements will fill the vacuum effectively. They will also welcome the return of their inspirational skipper Darren Sammy who hobbled on one leg to hit a last over six for Zalmi’s victory over Quetta Gladiators. Sammy missed the last game against Islamabad due to the hamstring problem but will return against Sultans today.

    Sammy had lamented lack of runs — 151 against Multan in the first match.

    “I think we were about 10 runs short. [Mohammad] Hafeez should be accredited for the way he played to get us to 150 runs. I thought we had enough, but we gave away about 20 runs extra in the field,” Sammy had said.

    So Peshawar Zalmi’s hopes will pin on Mohammad Hafeez — who scored a half-century in the first match — and PSL history’s top scorer Kamran Akmal.

    Multan Sultans have been impressive since their debut match with former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara leading the batting table in this edition with three half-centuries. They also have table topper in bowling, Imran Tahir who achieved a hat-trick against Quetta Gladiators and has ten wickets to his credit.

    League’s other hat-trick was also achieved by Multan’s fast bowler Junaid Khan while lanky Mohammad Irfan is also firing on all cylinders in tandem with Junaid. Multan Sultans are led admirably by Shoaib Malik and guided by director Wasim Akram and head coach Tom Moody.

    Multan Sultans are leading the points table with 7 points against their name, same as Karachi Kings, but they are maintaining a better net run-rate as compared to the men in Blue and Red. Zalmi and Islamabad have six points each but on better net run-rate, Zalmi are ahead of Islamabad.

  • Ibtisam Sheikh – Pakistan cricket’s Harry Potter

    Ibtisam Sheikh – Pakistan cricket’s Harry Potter

    He has got all the traits of Harry Potter, brave and confident. Just like Harry Potter, he takes big challenges. Ibtisam Sheikh, the 19-year old leg-spinner from Hyderabad is a Harry Porter look-alike!

    Harry fights with demons, witches and magicians to become a role model albeit in the imaginary film world. He is the toast of novels reading youth around the world, for taking big challenges.

    Ibtisam is impressed with Harry, but wants to make his own identity, in the real world — the world of cricket — where it is double hard work.

    “Yes, I have seen a few of Harry Potter films and feel that he is impressive,” Ibtisam told ARY News. “But I want my own identity. I am Ibtisam Sheikh and want to be that. Yes, I have a few similarities with Harry, the kind of big challenges and all but cricket is different and here you have to show your talent to make a mark.”

    Read More: Young Zalmi bowlers rattle Islamabad United to claim victory

    Unlike Harry, Ibtisam has a family headed by his doctor father. The family also includes another doctor in Ibtisam’s elder brother so naturally, his parents wanted him to study medicine. But no one dissuaded him from playing cricket and opting a career there. Ibtisam played his initial cricket on the streets of Hyderabad.

    If Harry fights with fire, Ibtisam fought with hot and ferocious weather of his city. Hyderabad region coach Iqbal Imam spotted talent in him. “Ibtisam comes as a hard-working youngster who is never tired of bowling and is not afraid of taking challenges. He impressed everyone after playing for the region and through the draft was included in Faisalabad team,” remembers Imam, himself a first-class cricketer of great repute.

    Ibtisam struck gold in his first First-Class match. Playing for Faisalabad against Sui Northern Gas, his first wicket was of great Misbah-ul-Haq.

    “It added to my confidence immensely,” recalls Ibtisam. “When you get a batsman like Misbah it adds to your confidence.” Ibtisam got a chance to train under National Cricket Academy head coach Mushtaq Ahmed who polished his skills further.

    But the real breakthrough came when Peshawar Zalmi head coach Mohammad Akram spotted him and decided to include him in the emerging category. Akram, a former Pakistan paceman, has a great eye for talent. It was Akram who predicted about Hasan Ali making a name when the paceman was included in the first PSL, also as an emerging player.

    “Ibtisam has talent and he can go places,” said Akram. “When we saw him bowl it impressed us so we decided to give him a chance in the emerging category.”

    When the news reached Ibtisam he was so thrilled that his mobile fell down.

    “I was awestruck and was not believing my ears,” remembers Ibtisam. “I have dreamt of making it big but the news of getting included in the emerging category was so surprising that the mobile slipped out of my hand. Its a dream come true.”

    To their credit, Peshawar Zalmi included Ibtisam in the first match of PSL 3 and although he did not get any wicket against a formidable Multan Sultans, his bowling skills caught the eyes. The big occasion made him slightly nervous as bowling against world class players like Kumar Sangakkara and Shoaib Malik, he bowled a little short but skipper Darren Sammy backed him.

    Sammy laughed off the leggie’s comparison with Harry Potter.

    “That’s a good comparison,” Sammy told ARY News. “Before he played the first match I tweeted that ‘look out for this young leg-spinner.’ I must say that he is a very confident young man.

    “Peshawar Zalmi is known for giving chances to emerging players. Two years ago Hasan Ali was our emerging player and fast track two years later he is the world number one one-day bowler so it is all about giving youngsters to Pakistan cricket.”

    Ibtisam took 3-20 against Islamabad and followed that up with 2-25 against Karachi Kings.

    “Till now my best wicket is Colin Ingram,” said a proud leg-spinner. “I want to make a name for myself in PSL and this will help me get a place in the Pakistan team.

    “The ultimate goal is to play for Pakistan.”

    So Harry Porter has arrived on cricket scenes!

  • Rampaging Ronhci lifts Islamabad to win over Karachi

    Rampaging Ronhci lifts Islamabad to win over Karachi

    SHARJAH: Former New Zealand batsman Luke Ronchi hit a rapidfire half-century to steer Islamabad United to eight wicket win over Karachi Kings at Sharjah on Sunday, handing their opponents the first taste of defeat in the league.

    Ronchi smashed ten boundaries and three towering sixes during his 37-ball 71 — equalling highest individual score in this PSL with Peshawar Zalmi batsman Dwayne Smith’s 71 not out — as Islamabad achieved a 154-run target in 17.2 overs.

    Babar Azam had hit 53-ball 55 while Khurram Manzoor fired 41-ball 51 to anchor Karachi Kings’s 153-6 in 20 overs after they were put into bat on a flat shinning Sharjah stadium pitch.

    Ronchi put on 104 for the first wicket with Jean-Paul Duminy (43 not out off 44 balls ) by 10.5 overs to almost put the match beyond Karachi Kings’s reach. Asif Ali smashed the winning six off Karachi skipper Imad Wasim to seal the victory.

    After today’s game all six teams have completed five matches, with Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans seven points, Islamabad and Peshawar Zalmi on six each. Quetta have four points while Lahore Qalandars have yet to get a point in five matches.

    All three Karachi left-arm pacers — Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari and Tymal Maills bowled too short, allowing Ronchi to score freely as 50 was reached in 5.1 overs. Amir’s first two overs cost 24 and Shinwari’s 22.

    Ronchi was finally dismissed by lanky pavcer Mohammad Irfan, caught and bowled while Hussain Talat (eight) fell to Amir but the target was almost in reach by then.

    Earlier, Karachi Kings posted the highest total in six Sharjah games this year, reaching 153-6 in their 20 overs.

    They owed their total to a second wicket stand of 101 between Babar and Manzoor who lifted the total after Joe Denly went for four in the second over.

    Manzoor smashed six boundaries and a six while Babar’s knock had two sixes and three boundaries. Both batted with confidence and even after their departure karachi Kings managed 47 in the last five overs with Mohammad Rizwan scoring nine-ball 21 not out and Imad Wasim making 10.

    Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23.

    The PSL shifts against to Dubai on Wednesday after a day’s rest.

    Islamabad United (156/2) (17.2 Overs)

    Overs 17.2 by Tymal Mills/ Imad

    JP Duminy 43 (44)

    Asif Ali 26 (16)

    Overs 15/16 by Usman/ Irfan

    JP Duminy 38 (42)

    Asif Ali 14 (10)

    Overs 13/14 by Amir/ Irfan

    JP Duminy 35 (39)

    Asif Ali 1 (1)

    Hussain Talat 8 (7)

    Overs 11/12 by Tymal Mills/ Irfan

    JP Duminy 33 (32)

    Hussain Talat 2 (3)

    Luke Ronchi 71 (37)

     

    Overs 9/10 by Bopara/ Tymal Mills

    Luke Ronchi 66 (33)

    JP Duminy 29 (27)

    Overs 7/8 by Imad / Tymal Mills

    Luke Ronchi 55 (28)

    JP Duminy 22 (20)

    Overs 5/6 by Imad / Usman Khan

    Luke Ronchi 40 (19)

    JP Duminy 19 (17)

    Overs 3/4 by Amir / Usman Khan

    Luke Ronchi 18 (11)

    JP Duminy 12 (13)

    Overs 1/2 by Amir / Imad Wasim

    Luke Ronchi 1 (2)

    JP Duminy 10 (10)

    Karachi Kings (153/6) (20 Overs)

    Overs 19/20 by Mohammad Sami/ Faheem Ashraf

    Mohammad Rizwan 21 (9)

    Mohammad Irfan 1 (1)

    Imad Wasim 10 (6)

    Overs 17/18 by Mohammad Sami/ Talat

    Mohammad Rizwan 1 (1)

    Imad Wasim 5 (3)

    Ravi Bopara 8 (5)

    Babar Azam 55 (53)

    Overs 15/16 by Faheem Ashraf/ Patel

    Babr Azam 53 (50)

    Colin Ingram 1 (2)

    Khurram Manzoor 51 (41)

    Overs 13/14 by Hussain Talat/ Shadab

    Khurram Manzoor 44 (37)

    Babr Azam 42 (44)

    Overs 11/12 by Hussain Talat/ Shadab

    Khurram Manzoor 35 (32)

    Babr Azam 32 (37)

    Overs 9/10 by Hussain Talat/ Shadab

    Khurram Manzoor 23 (26)

    Babr Azam 22 (31)

    Overs 7/8 by Faheem Ashraf/ Shadab

    Khurram Manzoor 20 (21)

    Babr Azam 17 (24)

    Overs 5/6 by Faheem Ashraf/Patel

    Khurram Manzoor 18 (18)

    Babr Azam 10 (15)

    Overs 3/4 by Sami/Patel

    Khurram Manzoor 15 (15)

    Babr Azam 6 (6)

    Overs 1/2 by Sami/Patel

    Joe Denly 4 (3)

    Khurram Manzoor 2 (7)

    Babr Azam 4 (2)

  • Karachi Kings target play-off spot in clash against Islamabad

    Karachi Kings target play-off spot in clash against Islamabad

    SHARJAH: Unbeaten and confident Karachi Kings will enter the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Islamabad United on Sunday (today) with an eye on the play-off spot as teams will complete five matches in the Pakistan Super League with varied fortunes.

    Karachi Kings have been the surprised package with their utility players. Imad Wasim led side has done what other sides have feared, batting first and then defending the targets twice. It is done on the basis of a strong bowling attack led by the ever lively Shahid Afridi with six wickets.

    But a knee injury has forced Afridi to miss the game against Multan Sultans which rained off and will again be not on the name sheet against Islamabad.

    But that will allow Karachi to field all three of its left-armers Mohammad Amir, Tymal Mills and Usman Shinwari. If the pitch looks helpful for spinners then leggie Usama Mir will come into equation.

    Karachi Kings and Islamabad have shared three matches each in the past two editions of the PSL. Islamabad United won all three matches on their way to the title in 2016 while Karachi avenged that with three wins in the second edition to finish third.

    Islamabad are still sweating on the fitness of their pace spearhead Rumman Raees who injured his leg while fielding and will not be risked considering the last satges of the league.

    Islamabad fought hard to tie the match in defense of a small 122-run target against Lahore Qalandars and then clinching the game on Super Over.

    Captain Misbah-ul-Haq will be looking for the same fight against Karachi.

    “It will be a tough game so we have to be at our best,” said Misbah after team’s Super Over win. “Karachi is playing some good cricket so we have to better that.”

    PSL will shift to Duabi after a day’s rest on Monday.

  • Peshawar Zalmi inflict fifth defeat on hapless Lahore

    Peshawar Zalmi inflict fifth defeat on hapless Lahore

    SHARJAH: Lahore Qalandars’s luck did not change as they succumbed to fifth straight defeat and have come close to the exit door after title holders Peshawar Zalmi inflicted a big ten-wicket defeat on them at Sharjah on Saturday.

    Lahore failed yet again with the bat as England spinner Liam Dawson (3-20), Hasan Ali (3-22) and Wahab Riaz (2-14) rocked them for this year’s lowest total of 100 in 17.2 overs on a slow Sharjah stadium pitch.

    Yet again Lahore spurned a good start of 42 without a loss and from 57-1 in 6.1 overs they lost nine wickets for 43 runs in the space of 67 balls — a third time collapse in this year’s PSL. The batting looked in complete shambles as no batsmen could score a half century in fifth straight match.

    Fakhar Zaman clobbered four boundaraies and two sixes in his 17-ball 30 but none of the other batsmen could make any significant contribution, with Brendon McCullum and Umar Akmal making 15 each. Peshawar achieved the paltry target in 13.4 overs without losing a wicket.

    Dawson had derailed the innings with wickets of Zaman and Denesh Ramdin (nought) on successive deliveries and was deprived of a hat-trick by Sohail Akhtar who he had in the 11th over.

    Hasan had McCullum, Sunil Narine (three) and Salman Irshad (one) before Riaz claimed Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah (nought) and in between Umar was run out as Lahore’s innings faltered badly.

    This eighth straight loss of Lahore — they lost their last three matches in the last edition of the PSL — has highlighted their lack of performance..

    Peshawar rode on brilliant knocks of 57 by Kamran Akmal and 37 by Tamim Iqbal to achieve their third win in five matches. Karachi Kings top the table with seven points in four matches followed by Multan Sultans, also seven but in five matches and inferior run-rate.

    Kamran struck two sixes and seven boundaries in his 47 ball unconquered knock while Tamim smashed four boundaries.

    After a day’s rest the PSL shifts back to Dubai, with a rest day on Monday. Action begins on Tuesday with Multan Sultans taking on Peshawar.

  • Hat-trick gives elation to on-fire Imran Tahir

    Hat-trick gives elation to on-fire Imran Tahir

    SHARJAH: Leg-spinner Imran Tahir set Sharjah stadium on fire with a hat-trick against Quetta Gladiators which the South African hailed as a “special achievement” as he helped Multan Sultans to a convincing nine-wicket victory.

    Tahir, who played all his early cricket and Junior World Cup for Pakistan, changed allegiance to South Africa and rose to world’s best bowler.

    Tahir dismissed Hasan Khan, John Hastings and Rahat Ali — all for nought – to record the second hat-trick of this year’s PSL following team-mate Junaid Khan’s three-in-three against Lahore Qalandars.

    Read More: Imran Tahir, Sangakkara lead Multan’s rout of Quetta

    “I did a hat-trick in a county match in England but this is something very special,” said Tahir who now has ten wickets in the league, the most this year.

    “It’s a proud feeling and I am very happy to contribute towards team’s success,” said Tahir. “I knew the third batsman will play for a googly so I bowled as per plan and it gave me a wicket.”

    Tahir praised the spirit in Multan’s camp.

    “We entered the game with full confidence and we have gelled very well as a team. Players respect each other and the game. So whoever we play we will give it the best try.”

    The win gives Multan seven points with three victories and one defeat while their match against Karachi Kings was washed out due to rain.

  • Imran Tahir, Sangakkara lead Multan’s rout of Quetta

    Imran Tahir, Sangakkara lead Multan’s rout of Quetta

    SHARJAH: Leg-spinner Imran Tahir achieved the second hat-trick of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season three, while Kumar Sangakkara registered his third half century to help Multan Sultans knock Quetta Gladiators by nine wicket at Sharjah on Saturday.

    The now retired left-handed Sri Lankan superstar scored 44-ball 51 with five boundaries and a six to anchor Sultans’s chase of a modest 103-run target in 16.4 overs after Tahir (3-19), Sohail Tanvir (3-14) and Junaid Khan (2-9) bowled Quetta out for 102 in 15.4 overs.

    Sangakkara, who knocked 57 in the opening match against Peshawar and 63 against Lahore, batted sensibly as he and Ahmed Shehzad (27 off 35 balls) put on 66 steady runs for the opening wicket.

    Even when Shehzad got out, Sangakkara held his end intact and wrapped up the target by adding 42 for the unfinished second wicket stand with Sohaib Maqsood who made 26 not out.

    That gave Multan their third win in five games with one no result and one defeat while twice runners-up Quetta are left to ponder their fate, losing three of their five games.

    Tahir dismissed Hasan Khan (nought) and John Hastings (nought) before trapping Rahat Ali on the next ball to achieve second hat-trick in this year’s PSL. Team-mate Junaid Khan achieved hat-trick against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai.

    Karachi Kings’s Mohammad Amir was the first to pick up a hat-trick in PSL history when he achieved the feat in the first edition in Dubai against Lahore.

    But much before Tahir’s hat-trick Quetta were already derailed by their own mistakes as they suffered a Lahore Qalanader-like collapse, losing six wickets for ten runs off 19 balls after looking set for 140-plus total at 92-4.

    Umar Amin (eight) and Ramiz Raja Junior (one) fell within one run and Shane Watson hoicked Junaid Khan to boundary after looking set on 19. Rilee Rossouw also hit a six and then attempting a big hit was stumped off Shoaib Malik.

    Sarfraz fought a line battle but even his patience ran out when he fell to Sohail Tanvir who finished with 3-14 in his three overs. Mohammad Nawaz fell in the same over as Tanvir too was on a hat trick.

     

  • Shahid Afridi advised two days’ rest

    Shahid Afridi advised two days’ rest

    SHARJAH: Popular Karachi Kings’ all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been advised a two-day rest after his MRI scan suggests no serious injury, said team official on Friday.

    The 38-year-old was not on the name sheet for the match against Multan Sultans in Sharjah on Friday after feeling pain in his right knee.

    The match was rained off and gave one point each to both the teams.

    Read More: Karachi Kings celebrate Shahid Afridi’s birthday

    “Afridi had a scan on his right knee which showed swelling in the right leg muscle around knee area. Further tests will clear everything. He has been advised two days’ rest,” said Karachi Kings media manager.

    Afridi will face race against time to get fit for Sunday’s game against Islamabad United. He is Karachi Kings’s top wicket-taker with six.