Zalmi aim to bounce back from losing spree

Shahid Afridi says Peshawar have the guts to go all the way in HBL PSL

DUBAI: The mood in the Peshawar Zalmi camp is tense. And not without reason. Back-to-back losses against Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in Sharjah have pushed Zalmi to fourth place in the HBL Pakistan Super League and they are now faced with realistic fears of missing out on the playoffs.

But Zalmi are confident that they will bounce back with wins against Lahore Qalandars (Friday) and Quetta Gladiators (Saturday) here at the Dubai International Stadium.

“We know the importance of our next two matches,” Shahid Afridi, one of the team’s key players, told ‘The News’ here on Thursday. “Losses in the previous two games have made it tough for us but I’m confident that the boys will bounce back in the coming games to secure our place in the playoffs,” added the former Zalmi captain.

Peshawar are in a precarious position, having slipped to number four in this five-team contest. They just had a one point lead over bottom-placed Karachi Kings before Thursday’s night’s game between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi.

Another defeat in this evening’s encounter against Lahore Qalandars could mean game over for Peshawar Zalmi who came into the tournament as one of the contenders for the PSL title.

“We have to learn from our mistakes,” said Afridi who smashed a 28-ball 54 but still failed to take Peshawar past the finish line in their crunch game against Karachi Kings in Sharjah. “Our top order will have to deliver because unless they give the team good starts things will become more difficult for us,” said Afridi, who is hoping to build up on his stunning fifty in the last game.

“I was pleased with the way I middled the ball in Sharjah and hope to give my best in the coming games,” he said.

Afridi warned that Peshawar also need to improve their fielding if they are to go all the way in the T20 league.

“We’ve had some fielding lapses which really cost us in the previous games. It is important that we do a better job in the field. We have to take our catches and show more sharpness in the field.”

Peshawar carried out a team meeting on Thursday to discuss ways and means to lift their performance in the coming games. They will meet again tomorrow morning before taking on Qalandars.

“It’s all about lifting the team’s morale,” said Afridi.

Lahore, meanwhile, will be hoping to capitalise on the momentum following their thrilling one-wicket win against Islamabad United in Sharjah on Monday. Grant Elliott hit Mohammad Sami for a six in the last over to seal an important win for Lahore, who are now placed at number two spot on the points table with six points.

But they, too, aren’t safe as a loss today can push them to the bottom of the table. However, Lahore are peaking at the right time and will be tough to beat this evening.