Shaheen terms Lahore ‘unlucky’ after defeat to Zalmi

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has attributed his team’s seven-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi in the 14th match of PSL 10 to a combination of poor fortune and insufficient runs on the board. The home side was bowled out for a modest 129 in 19.2 overs at Gaddafi Stadium, leaving their bowlers with little to defend.

Batting first, the Qalandars suffered a top-order collapse after opener Fakhar Zaman (10) was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph in the second over while attempting an aggressive shot. The decision to promote Asif Ali up the order also backfired, as he managed only five runs off six deliveries before falling in the next over.

Shaheen explained the rationale behind the decision, saying, “Yes, we opted for Asif to open. He has a lot of experience opening in domestic cricket, so it wasn’t a big change for him. Our goal is to challenge the perception that he’s only suited for a lower order role—hopefully, we can broaden that view.”

The Qalandars were soon struggling at 21-4 within the powerplay, leaving experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza to salvage the innings. His valiant 50-run knock off 30 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and three sixes, was the only bright spot in an otherwise forgettable batting performance.

Despite Shaheen’s economical spell of 2/22 in four overs, the Qalandars’ bowlers were unable to defend the modest total. Peshawar Zalmi’s skipper Babar Azam (56* off 42) and Hussain Talat (51* off 37) combined for an unbroken 93-run partnership to see their side home with 20 balls to spare.

Reflecting on the defeat, Shaheen remarked, “We were a bit unlucky tonight. The guys put in the effort, but sometimes things just don’t go your way in cricket. A total of 170-160 would have been competitive on this surface, but it wasn’t to be.”