Quetta will look to settle scores against Islamabad in Sharjah
sharjah — Last year’s runners-up Quetta Gladiators will have some scores to settle when they lock horns with defending champions Islamabad United as the action of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) shifts to the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
With two wins out of two under their belts, Quetta look favourites this time after Islamabad began well by beating Peshawar Zalmi in the inaugural match via the Duckworth-Lewis method only to falter against Lahore Qalandars in their next match, thus ending their seven-game run-spree which carried on from the first edition.
Quetta will do well not to take Islamabad lightly especially after what happened in last year’s final when half centuries from Ahmed Shahzad and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara propelled them to a decent 174.
But even that total proved meagre to defend after hard-hitting West Indies’ Dwayne Smith and the retired Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin put the Quetta bowlers to the sword. In the end Islamabad won the match convincingly with eight balls to spare. If Quetta lacked such a batsman in their line-up last year they can certainly boast of South African Rilee Rossouw for this season. The 27-year-old left-handed batsman has already smashed bowlers all over the park in the two matches he has played so far for Sarfraz Ahmed’s side, and both in winning causes.
Sarfraz himself is a destructive batsman on his day. He showed glimpses of it against Karachi Kings the other day when clobbering an unbeaten 56 from 42 balls.
The Pakistan T20 and ODI skipper has made rapid strides in recent times and looks hell-bent on setting his hands on the glittering trophy in Lahore on March 5.
“Last year we came up short, but this year we want to go the distance,” he had said during the unveiling of the trophy.
It won’t be easy though as his opposite number is not one to throw in the towel so easily. A cool and composed Misbah is the last person to get ruffled by such statements. Known more for his batting patience in Tests, the 42-year-old was breathing fire on Saturday with a hurricane 61 from 36 balls. His knock was studded with five massive sixes and three fours. Come Wednesday and both captains will be out to prove their mettle.
Meanwhile, Mazhar Khan, General Manager of the Sharjah Cricket Association, looked confident of a full house, mainly on the weekend.
“We are confident of full houses. And the stadium is all set to open its gates and welcome cricket lovers as it has so successfully done since 1981. The weekend back-to-back double header matches will be a special feast of high quality cricket and I really would recommend buying tickets immediately,” he added.
Tickets are priced at Dhs 20 for the North Stand to Dhs 250 for the Members’ Enclosure. The doubleheaders start from Dhs 40.
clarito@khaleejtimes.com