Battling for survival, Karachi look to topple Quetta today

DUBAI: Its almost do-or-die time for Karachi Kings. That’s why it was hardly surprising to see the team’s players sweating it out here at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City on Wednesday ahead of their HBL Pakistan Super League clash against table-toppers Quetta Gladiators.

Though three other teams also carried out training sessions on Wednesday — a non-match day on which only Lahore Qalandars opted for rest — you could feel the intensity with which Karachi trained fully aware that they might not be able to afford any more hiccups.

Karachi, who also missed reaching the final of the inaugural edition of the PSL last year, seemed almost down and out following a spate of early losses but two narrow wins gave their title campaign a new lease of life.

But still placed at the bottom of the table in this five-team contest, Karachi continue to face clear and present danger of bowing out of the competition before the playoffs.

They will need to beat buoyant Gladiators Thursday night (tonight) to take themselves to reasonable safety.

“The team’s morale is high after two important wins and there is this positive mood in the dressing room,” a Karachi player told ‘The News’. “They (Quetta) are a good side but we are confident of beating them tomorrow,” he added.

Much will depend on the likes of skipper Kumar Sangakkara, the in-form Babar Azam and the seasoned Shoaib Malik. But perhaps even more importantly, it will be their out-of-sorts batting Chris Gayle, who has to deliver during the remaining part of the Twenty20 league.

Gayle, 37, is one of the biggest stars of the current PSL season. But his stats so far suggest otherwise. The West Indian master blaster has scored just 30 runs from five outings at a meagre average of 6. His poor run of form is a major concern for Karachi who are now pondering the idea of fielding Gayle at the number three spot. In the bowling department, Sohail Khan has done well for Karachi so far with Mohammad Amir and
Imad Wasim also chipping in.

Quetta, who were lifted by Kevin Pietersen’s master-class in a high-scoring thriller against Lahore on February 18 in Sharjah, will be hoping for another match-winning knock from the star Englishman. They have been served well by their captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw in the middle-order but Ahmed Shehzad’s lean patch of form is giving them problem at the top.

Though Quetta look comfortable at the top, they would want to win tonight and take a three-point lead to virtually ensure their place in the playoffs.

Squads:

Quetta Gladiators: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Bismillah Khan, Hasan Khan, Nathan McCullum, Mahmudullah, Tymal Mills, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Nawaz, Noor Wali, Thisara Perera, Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Rossouw, Saad Nasim, Umar Amin, Umar Gul, Luke Wright, Zulfiqar Babar.

Karachi Kings: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Ravi Bopara, Chris Gayle, Hasan Mohsin, Imad Wasim, Mahela Jayawardene, Kashif Bhatti, Khurram Manzoor, Ryan McLaren, Mohammad
Amir, Kieron Pollard, Rahat Ali, Saifullah Bangash, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Khan, Usama Mir.