Khaleej Times

We are proud to have McCullum: Lahore

- clareto@khaleejtim­es.com Clareto Monsorate

dubai – It’s never easy when a team is losing match after match – in this case six on the trot. So when the beleaguere­d Lahore Qalandars won their first in their seventh attempt in the HBL Pakistan Super League, there was more relief in the camp than happiness.

The Brendon McCullum-led side beat Multan Sultans by six wickets at the Dubai Internatio­nal Cricket Stadium on Friday to give themselves a glimmer of hope of making the Playoffs stage.

Rana Sameen, manager of the team, while addressing the media said: “More than happiness there is a sense of relief because this team is very united. There are a lot of emotions attached to it. I think all these difficult challenges have tested our resolve.

“It’s not easy to be a Qalandar. We wanted to win for our fans whom we have let down. We wanted to bring some happiness to them.”

After the defeat to Islamabad United there was talk that McCullum was willing to give up captaincy for the betterment of the team.

But Sameen quashed all the loose talk. “McCullum is very committed to Qalandars. He plays for the team. He was disappoint­ed after the match against Islamabad as we knew had we won that we were still in the tournament.

“It was just a suggestion about someone else taking over but that just shows his selflessne­ss.”

When questioned whether there was any pressure from the team management, Sameen added, “It was Brendon’s thought and not the teams. We have 100 per cent faith in Brendon. His captaincy and commitment is priceless to Qalandars.

“We are proud to have him as our captain.”

 ?? — Photo by Neeraj Murali ?? lahore Qalandar’s Brendon McCullum plays a shot against Multan Sultan.
— Photo by Neeraj Murali lahore Qalandar’s Brendon McCullum plays a shot against Multan Sultan.

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