ALL EYES ON GAYLE
Bottom-placed Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars, placed a rung above them, have their task cut out in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the two teams face-off at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.
Karachi are banking on the destructive Chris Gayle to set the stage on fire but unfortunately that has not happened in the two matches he played at the DubaiStadiumwhich resulted in Karachilosing both.
Although the blame cannot solely be put on the West Indian,Karachi will be hoping Gayle comes to the party before it’s too late.
With scores of 2 and 10 it’sjust a matter of time when the West Indian will explode. If it can happen on Thursday against Lahore, who too are struggling, then Karachi could get a kickstart.
Their skipper Kumar Sangakkara too needs to get a big one under his belt whichcould set the ball rolling. With Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard and Ravi Bopara in the squad Karachi are not short of match winner. Their bowling department too is packed with Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan and Imad Wasim, while Malik, Boparaand Pollard are capable of stemming the run flow if not runthrough the opposition batting line-up.
So it’s a matter of gettingthat first taste of win and from there things could look different for themlater.
Lahore Qalandars are sailing in the sameboat as Karachi. They have the best openingpair in BrendonMcCullum and Jason Roy.Yet they were bundledout for the second lowest-ever T20 score – 59— and the lowest total of the two editions of the PSL so far. They also possess two of the best spinners in Yasir Shah and Sunil Narine. But they needto get their act together sooner than later and Thursday could be the day when a houseful weekend crowd is expected.