Our Articles

There was a sense of new beginnings for the 2 time champions of the PSL. Asides from their batting mainstay and assistant coach Luke Ronchi, there was an entirely new international cast on show.

The Kiwi opener who can dismantle any attack in world cricket, Colin Munro was one of the key additions. The power hitting Colin Ingram from South Africa and Englishman Dawid Malan were also notable add-ons to this fresh looking batting line up.

The United bowling unit is made up of local exuberant fast-medium pacers; Faheem, Musa, Butt and Akif. To complement the quicks they had the leg spin of Captain Shadab, accompanied by the wily duo of Goher and Abdullah.  In their last few matches Islamabad benefited from the timely inclusion of protean marksmen and fast bowling legend Dale Steyn.  

Game 1 

The United batting did not fire against the Gladiators. Only Malan for his brilliant 64 and Ronchi with his rapid 21 at the top were prominent in getting their team to the average first innings total of 150. The bowlers struggled with their line and length and failed to capitalize on their breakthroughs throughout the innings. Young Musa picked up 3 wickets but was expensive and could not stop Ben cutting from finishing the innings off in 18 overs and some change.

Game 2

The Sultans from Multans were stopped in their tracks. Mainly due to the cunning varieties from pacer Amad Butt. His 4 wickets along with some exceptional fielding by his team held their opponents to a nominal 164. In response the United batting came to the party, Ronchi made a destructive 74. Munro’s half century was highlighted by 4 towering sixes. Their century opening stand was instrumental in delivering a crushing 8 wicket defeat to Shan Masood’s men. The early loss was a thing of the past. United was on their merry way. Their out cricket was on show and their overseas batting prowess left the Sultans whirling. 

GAME 3

Lahore were the hosts, the infamous Qaddafi cricket stadium was the stage.

It is evident his bowling action has been scrutinized more than President Trump’s tweets. Yet there is something scintillating about the ‘Professor’ with the bat when he gets it right. The Qaddafi faithful were starved for such an innings and he delivered. Hafeez danced his way to a selfless 98 of just 57 balls. It was a flawless display of timing and placement. 

Was his national selection for the T20 world cup later this year still a mistake? For now the professor had silenced his naysayers.

On the back of his unbeaten knock Lahore tallied up a formidable 182 for the loss of 6 wickets. There was more drama in the next 90 minutes than the entire season of the US reality show The Bachelor.

Ronchi and Munro, the stars of United’s previous win failed to make an impression in this run chase. Lahore fans were dancing in the aisles. Captain Shadab however did not disappoint. His 55 was destructive yet methodical. 

‘United and National team Premier Misbah must be pleased with the unearthing of Shadab the batsmen’

Unfortunately the generosity from the Islamabad batsmen continued. Shadab gifted his wicket, guiding a short ball into the grateful fingers of Patel at third man. He left his team to get over 90 runs in less than 10 overs. The carnival like atmosphere ensued in the stands.

Ingram added to the total with a sweltering knock, admonishing everything from his sight. His innings of 30 of 14 was short lived and the hopeful United dugout was deflated yet again. Islamabad lost their next 5 wickets for 40 runs, much to the brilliance of the smiling yet lethal Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

The Lahori crowd was in a state of euphoria, the long awaited win was a pipe dream no more. With one wicket to get and a combined batting average of 4 at the crease, it was all but over. However Islamabad’s most unsuspected heroes did not give in. They struck boundaries and ran with a purpose, etching their names into PSL’s pantheon of lower order heroics.

The Qalander fielders were left gazing at the heavens and their fans sat silent and motionless. It was a true advert for this rollercoaster version of the great game.

The world took notice and this tournament was well and truly alive.

GAME 4

The Rawalpindi crowd was noisy and rambunctious. United were determined for some success against the champions. The fast men of Quetta sent the top order to the dugout with only 54 on the board. Shadab and Ingram then fashioned together an explosive partnership, adding another 70 odd to the total. Ingram’s 60 not out helped his team to a solid 187 to defend at home.

The Gladiator’s had a sizzling start. Roy was particularly dismissive; Watson and he did not let the United’s opening bowlers find any rhythm whatsoever. 

Roy carried on; his partners however were in a rush to get back to the dugout, Ahmed Shazad, in particular who seemed as if he was on a stroll in nearby Ayub Park. His shot selection this entire tournament was comical.

Quetta dug them a decent sized hole when the captain banished, illogically heaving one across the line. With 50 runs left to get off 25 odd balls, the mood around Pindi cricket stadium was festive and triumphant.

Once again Quetta’s silent protagonist, straight hitting Ben Cutting came to the rescue.  He showed minimal respect for Faheem, smashing over 20 of his last over, taking his side across the line in style with a big six to finish things off. Sarfaraz was relieved and Viv was seen punching the air leaving Misbah scratching his never ending beard.

At this juncture in the tourney, it was evident the pace men for Islamabad were the real crack in their armory.

The match against Zalmi was a washout so it was onto game 6 for United, they were to host their former Coach Dean Jones, who was leading a very formidable Karachi Kings outfit.

GAME 6

There was an invisible tense fog in the cool Rawalpindi air.

Ronchi and Shadab were still left licking their wounds after their mentor and leader had left them for greener pastures. Jones was ever present, legs crossed, trusty notepad in his lap. Pakistan legend and his trusty confidant Wasim Akram practically attached to the Aussie.

Akram formerly with United, now served as chairman and bowling coach of the Kings franchise, poised for what was to be an electrifying encounter.

Ronchi came roaring out of the dugout, proving he was still the premier run machine in this tournament. He had half his teams score when Ingram left him at 77-3, in a little over 9 overs bowled. 

It appeared if Kings were going to keep a grip on the scoring, if they succeeded in getting one more wicket. It wasn’t to be, Captain Shadab strode in like a wounded tiger, scoring a memorable fifty. His 4 sixes and 3 fours had Pindi fans sizzling on a frosty evening in March. The pair put on a 108 not out taking their side to a reputable 185 for 3.

United had first blood, Jones and company appeared jolted.

Karachi had a rocky start, with Shadab running out Babar for a duck by some sheer brilliance in the field. Gargantuan hitting by Sharjeel helped weather the early blow. Hales continued on his merry way after Sharjeel left him, gloving one to the keeper for an effortless 38. Then Hales and South African Cam Delport put on a 66 run partnership keeping Karachi in the hunt.

The Kings ended up losing 2 more wickets swiftly after the partnership was broken, setting up for a nervy finish. It wasn’t to be, thanks to their deep batting line up. Captain Imad and Keeper Walton annihilated the United quick’s. In particular Faheem, whose benevolent short bowling, was far too easy to put away. United yet again walked away gutted with only themselves to blame. In the context of this matchup and the group stage, it was a crucial achievement for the new look Kings.

GAME 7 

Islamabad traveled to Lahore, could we be in for another promising PSL thriller? 

Islamabad had jolted Lahore in the game of the tournament so far. Lahore was practically on their victory bus to the hotel, when their tail enders punctured any expectations of letting the bus leave the stadium gates at all.

This game was different, as in it was not a nail biter. On the contrary United embarrassed the Qalanders from the 3rd over on. Patel was sent back to his ancestral home somewhere in India. Leaking 22 of his over and setting the tone for one of the more emphatic victories in this leagues short lived history.

 A dominating 87 of 59 by Munro was the only standout performance. This time around Lahori fans exited the stadium well before the last wicket, still having nightmares from the heartbreaking loss a week ago.

GAME 8

It was a wet and chilly week in the twin cities, Islamabad were ready to host the Zalmi side vying for a spot in the final four. Shadab khan and his men chose to bat after winning the toss. It proved a god toss to win since the Zalmi bowlers could not settle on a good length throughout the innings. Luke Ronchi failed to make an impression after being bamboozled by Rahat Ali’s change of pace.

 Munro on the other hand was relishing these conditions and took apart every bowler he faced. A brilliant Yorker by Hassan Ali proved too good for young Hussain, United’s experiment at third down. It was a stark reminder of the deadly accuracy and passion this young man is capable of.  At 2 down for 40 odd, enter the in-form and fearless captain. 

Shadab the batsmen, the tormenter of anything short on his hips, the powerful straight hitter, be it with his beanstalk like arms, are we witnessing yet another leg spinner tuned proper batsmen? Clearly he is no Steve Smith, their might never be another as prolific yet unconventional as him in our sport. Nor is he Shahid “boom boom” Afridi who might go down as one of the great entertainers the game has ever seen. 

We at the daily believe if this young man is groomed correctly, Pakistan might have unearthed the rarest of gems; A talented leg spinner with the ability and temperament of a test batsman, who is already unquestionably a world class fielder. 

He continued his new found disrespect for bowlers in this league. Shadab admonished everything in his sight and raced to a 50 with Munro by his side. It was a fiery knock that helped heat up the Rawalpindi cricket ground, overshadowing Munro’s forgotten dominance who himself had reminded Yasser Shah, maybe Test cricket might be his comfort zone. They took the next 5 overs for about 60 runs until Munro departed and gave way to Ingram. 

Along with Shadab, Ingram dominated the lackluster Zalmi bowling and they amassed an explosive 76 runs together, peppering the boundary ropes with a plethora of big hits. United made a daunting 195 and it was time for Darren Sammy’s men to respond. 

Young Imam and the more level headed of the Akmal brothers came out guns blazing. By the time they had departed 64 runs were on the board in a little over 6 overs. T20 specialist Tom Banton and the young Pakistani banger with the bat, Haider Ali kept the heat up until the skies opened up.

The umpires called off the game, the Zalmi side were declared victors, deeply indebted to their friends Duckworth and Lewis. Shadab and his men were distraught; they felt they could have won the match in the next 10 over phase of the game. Although their fielding let them down, dropping 3 chances fittingly raining on their own parade. 

Game 9

The atmosphere was electric; there was a large and boisterous crowd, we were in for a rain shortened 9 over a side thriller. The Sultans from Multan won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first. Ronchi and Munro came out with a purpose; they managed to give their side an explosive start, they managed to put 57 on the board before finding themselves in the dugout.

Imran Tahir was particularly vocal after dismissing Munro, a bit more than his usual eccentric self. The next few overs seemed like a procession; The United batsmen lost 4 wickets adding only 31 to the total. Almost as if they needed to get back to the hotel to avoid a curfew. Their final score was 91 for 6 in 9 overs.

As Imran Tahir’s career reaches its final chapter, he will be remembered for a number of reasons. The 41 year old played cricket around the world in the past decade, his numbers in the limited over format, particularly the ODI’s where he had a brilliant strike rate of 24.83.

He infuriated and bamboozled batsmen the world over picking up 173 wickets in 104 matches. The Lahori born wrist spinner will most fondly be remembered for his sprinting celebrations and fiery character. This passion was on full display in his short spell today.

The mighty in form Sultans “wiped the floor the floor today in Rawalpindi with Islamabad” in the words of Alan ‘wilko’ Wilkinson. James Vince was also adhering to curfew restrictions it seemed, as he led his team to victory by 9 wickets with 3 overs or so to spare. His 61 came in only 24 balls, which included 5 boundaries of one over by young pacer Akif Javed, one we are sure he might still be thinking about.