KARACHI: Multan Sultans hard-hitting batsman Sohaib Maqsood believes in the ability of his side and says they can beat any team.
“Yes coming matches are very crucial for us as we had a bad first phase but the credit goes to management which still keeps telling us that anything can happen,” Sohaib said in the post-match talk after Multan Sultans recorded a clinical eight-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi in the HBL PSL-6 game in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
“I still believe in our progress as we have won two matches against Zalmi and Karachi. If we can beat such strong teams then we can beat any team,” Sohaib said. Multan now have six points from seven games and they will need to win their remaining matches to press for a seat in the playoffs.
Sohaib hammered a blistering 31-ball 61 and added 116 runs for the second wicket with his skipper Mohammad Rizwan (82*) to enable Multan Sultans to achieve the 167-run target against Zalmi with 21 balls to spare after losing just two wickets.
About his injury, Sohaib said: “When I went out there pain was there but the doctor had said that there was no fracture. He gave me a few tablets and after my body warmed after playing ten to 12 balls then I did not feel pain.
“When I went out there Rizwan kept telling me not to take unnecessary risks and play my natural game. When around 32 runs were left we both decided to score them in a couple of overs so that we could improve our net run rate,” Soahib said.
Sohaib said he tries to play aggressively. “Yes, that’s the role that our team management expects me to play. If I get a chance to bat in the circle, I try to attack fully and if I get a chance at the wicket after six overs I try to build the innings. The credit goes to the skipper as when a left-arm spinner was bowling I wanted to hit big but Rizwan told me to go deep,” Sohaib said.
He said he had worked hard over skills. “I had decided this year that I will play maximum white ball cricket. From the start I was an aggressive player but when my focus shifted to T20 and one-day cricket then I worked on my skills accordingly and you can see that. I also try new shots,” Sohaib said.
Zalmi were a few runs short against Sultans, says Rutherford
KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi’s West Indian hard-hitting batsman Sherfane Rutherford has said that they were a few runs short against Multan Sultans.
“We were 15 to 20 runs short,” Rutherford said in his post-match talk after Zalmi were beaten by Multan Sultans by eight wickets Sunday night. “But we can still make it as we have to play two more games,” Rutherfoord was quick to add.
Rutherford top-scored with a 40-ball 56 to enable Peshawar Zalmi to post 166-7 while batting first against Multan Sultans. Sultans then raced to the target with 21 balls to spare after losing just two wickets.
Rutherford said he is enjoying his stay with Zalmi. “Zalmi have a good bunch of players and they feel like home. I try my best to deliver. I think for us it is important to get momentum and try to get our winning way back,” the left-hander said.
He said they would need to adapt to the conditions quickly. “Yes, dew was there but we need to find ways and adapt very fast to the conditions,” Rutherford said. He hopes that Zalmi will bounce back and qualify for the playoffs. “Yes, we are confident we will make it to the playoffs. We have got a day’s rest and we will bounce back,” said Rutherford. Zalmi have eight points from eight outings.
