LAHORE – In HBL PSL ninth edition on Saturday, defending champions Lahore Qalandars will face Karachi Kings in the 10 match of the edition at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
The match will start at 7 pm in the evening. Defending champions are in search of their first win in the current season of PSL. They faced defeat in all three previous matches they played in the PSL.
Looking ahead to their match against Karachi, it seems like they won’t make any big changes to their squad. The Lahore Qalandars are likely to go with the same players.
They hope that their batting strength will shine through once again and that they can improve their bowling to restrict the opposition better.
It’s a crucial match for Shaheen Afridi and his team, as they are looking for their first win of the season. The stakes are high, and it’s almost a do-or-die situation for Qalandars.
On the other hand, Karachi Kings have played two matches in the esteemed event. They had to face defeat in one match while in other match they emerged victorious.
With a new coach and captain, Karachi Kings enter HBL PSL 9 with oodles of optimism. They’ve snapped up West Indies superstar Kieron Pollard in their squad who will try to swing their fortunes with his all-round capabilities.
Services of Australia all-rounder Daniel Sams with them. They have also retained seasoned campaigner Shoaib Malik.
Karachi Kings could bag only three wins in the 2023 season and despite having the firepower in their ranks to spring more surprises, they could not managed themselves to a unit.
Karachi Kings captain Shan Masood is likely to field a similar playing XI for the match against Lahore Qalandars. In their previous win against Peshawar Zalmi, Masood’s opening partner Muhammad Akhlaq blasted a 13-ball 24 at the top of the order.
In-form batters James Vince and Shoaib Malik will constitute the team’s middle-order, while Kieron Pollard could handle the slog overs with the bat. The West Indies-based T20 legend had packed 49 unbeaten runs from just 21 balls in his previous innings.
Apart from Pollard, Mohammad Nawaz will serve as another specialist all-rounder for Karachi Kings. Irfan Khan can take charge in middle overs in case of a top-order collapse.
Ealier,
Azhar Ali blasts Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy, questions bowling strategy,
Former cricketer Ali Azhar has singled out captain Shaheen Afridi’s leadership and expressed dismay over the team’s bowling display, particularly in their recent encounter against Multan Sultans.
During a candid discussion on a local sports channel, Azhar didn’t mince his words as he pinpointed several concerns plaguing Lahore Qalandars, attributing their woes to the absence of star leg-spinner Rashid Khan and what he perceived as tactical deficiencies under Afridi’s captaincy.
“I think Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy and Lahore’s bowling have been laid bare. The void left by Rashid Khan’s absence is palpable, depriving Lahore of the reassurance he once provided to the bowling unit during crucial middle overs,” Azhar remarked, echoing sentiments shared by many cricket enthusiasts.
Azhar further highlighted a lack of synergy between the bowlers and the captain, citing instances where strategic decisions appeared disjointed, such as bowling leg-side to batters with fine leg up and third man inside the circle when bowling off-stump.
PSL 9: Multan Sultans beat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets
“When new batter Iftikhar came out to bat, they persisted with leg-side deliveries despite having fine leg up. Conversely, when they targeted off-stump, the third man was stationed within the circle. This evident lack of coordination suggests a disconnect between the bowler and the captain,” Azhar elaborated, drawing attention to tactical lapses during crucial phases of the game.
Moreover, Azhar expressed disappointment in the inconsistent bowling performances of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, suggesting that Lahore Qalandars could encounter further challenges as the tournament progresses.
“Shaheen and Haris have failed to hit their stride with the ball. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Lahore may struggle with their bowling resources as the tournament unfolds,” Azhar concluded, painting a sobering picture for Lahore Qalandars and their supporters.
