Naqvi confident United will play PSL 3 final

SHARJAH: Islamabad United are on top of their game in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the moment and the owner of the franchise, Ali Naqvi, is confident that the team can become the first two-time champions of the Twenty20 league.

After losing two of their first three matches, Islamabad United have won six straight games to lead the points table with 14 points.Talking to the journalists here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Naqvi said he has always said that it is not about going for individual stars but the planning should be such that the team becomes a star.

“I am very happy with the team’s current performance, obviously,” he said. “We still have to win a few more matches (to become champions). But the idea and strategy is to groom youngsters in such a way that they are able to perform individually and take the team forward.”

After the first qualifier in Dubai on Sunday, the tournament will shift to Pakistan for the two eliminators in Lahore and the finale in Karachi on March 25.Speaking of the chances of the franchise’s foreign cricketers going to Pakistan for the final leg of the tournament, Naqvi said except for one player, all the players are committed to travel to Lahore and Karachi.

Naqvi said the final in Karachi “will be a historic occasion, not only for Karachi but for the whole country”.“There have been a lot of foreign tours in Lahore and now when the final of PSL 3 will be staged in Karachi and also the forthcoming matches against West Indies there, it will open another major city for international matches,” he said. “It is very important for Karachi and Pakistan.”

Naqvi was very happy with the performance of Islamabad United’s young players.“It’s not just the Pakistan Cricket Board or the selection committee, but the PSL is followed by 20 million people. The biggest advantage of PSL is that whoever performs cannot be hidden and when everyone watches their performance, it will be very difficult for them not to be considered to the national team,” he said.

Bowling coach Waqar Younis said all the teams have prepared well for the tournament but Islamabad United is in very good form.“We are playing very good cricket. Our balance probably is very good. We have some very good all-rounders,” he said.

“I think the team is clicking at the right time and I am hopeful that the players will continue to play good cricket and we will get the opportunity to play the final.”The former Pakistan captain and head coach spoke highly of youngsters Hussain Talat and Asif Ali.

“They are playing very well, are in good form. They are technically very sound. Both are ideal players for the shorter versions (of the game). Besides these two, I am sure there are other youngsters too who are being watched closely by the selectors.”

Waqar said it was a great sign that international cricket was returning to Karachi. “Karachi has produced a number of great cricketers and we will see the way the crowd will come to fill the stadium, history will repeat itself. “I am very happy and I am sure it will be a very good match as well.”