Ton-up Sharjeel, Khalid’s four-for send Peshawar Zalmi packing
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DUBAI: Opener Sharjeel Khan scored a blistering 117 and spinner Imran Khalid returned figures 3-0-20-4 as Islamabad United comprehensively beat Peshawar Zalmi by 50 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 177, Zalmi slumped to 126-10 in 18 overs. With this win, United has qualified for Pakistan Super League (PSL) final.
It was an all-round show by United’s batsmen and bowlers as they send a strong, star-studded Zalmi packing.
Zalmi have had a great tournament until playoffs where they lost both of their matches. Gladiators, in a nail-biting last-ball finish, overcame Zalmi in the first playoff on February 19.
Zalmi’s scorecard showed a dismal picture as none other than Kamran Akmal (45 off 32, with five fours and two sixes) could stand tall in front of a charged-up United attack.
Dawid Malan was the first to depart after scoring seven, followed by Mohammad Hafeez (eight), Akmal, Brad Hodge (five), Darren Sammy (nine), Shahid Yousuf (four), Wahab Riaz (one), Hassan Ali (one) and Mohammad Asghar (zero).
Skipper Afridi tried to put up some resistance but he alone wasn’t enough to take Zalmi home. In his 17-ball stay on the crease, Afridi scored 38 runs hitting four gigantic sixes and two fours.
Earlier, opener Sharjeel Khan scored a 117 runs to lift Islamabad United to 176-3. He was declared the Man of the Match.
As Afridi came in to bowl the 16th over and pitched it short, Sharjeel smacked it straight down the ground, clearing the long-off, to register himself as the first batsman to score a hundred in PSL.
He hit 12 fours and eight sixes in his 62-ball knock.
United, after being sent in to bat, established a 108-run stand for the first wicket in 13.1 overs.
Zalmi pace spearhead Shaun Tait, by dismissing a struggling Dwayne Smith (19 off 37) and Brad Haddin (zero) on consecutive deliveries, tried to bring his team back into the contest but was left looking for support from other teammates.
The Hyderabad-born Sharjeel was enjoyed support in death overs by Khalid Latif, who came in to bat at number four, and scored a crucial 28 off 21 balls.
Sharjeel and Latif established an important 63-run partnership for the third wicket. Sharjeel, in an attempt to get the strike back, ran himself out in the final over.
Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators will compete for 2016 PSL trophy on February 23.
Read more
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PCB hopeful of breaking even as Pakistan Super League nears end
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On DawnNews
Comments (52) Closed
Feb 21, 2016 08:41pm
I think it's going to be good game but I don't know who is going to win but good luck to both teams?
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Feb 21, 2016 10:30pm
Sharjeel is still not better than Khuram Manzoor as per waqar
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Feb 21, 2016 10:44pm
I would love to see sharjeel playing like this in t20 world cup.BTW is he in squad????
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Feb 21, 2016 11:30pm
what a selection Iftikhar Ahmed ,Khurram Manzoor ?
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Feb 21, 2016 11:54pm
Sharjeel Khan...what an innings. Have never seen a better innings, timing and range of shots, pure class.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:24am
Weldon Sharjeel.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:25am
Congrats to United. My favourite team has won.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:35am
Wow.. Isb United's in full form today.. The final will be a thriller.. Good luck to both teams.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:41am
the arrogant peshawer zalmi players will be coming home in next flight. best of luck to both quetta and islamabad.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:44am
no room in pak t20 team of manzoor.
pls SARJEEL ko team me lo jaldi se pls pls pls pls pls
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Feb 22, 2016 12:47am
So in batting is Sharjeel the find for national squad???
One thing for sure his century is a class innings that shows in T20 how a proper batsman can be more effective than a sloggger
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Feb 22, 2016 12:55am
Thanks PSL for keeping the nation away from watching the political news and boring dramas.
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Feb 22, 2016 12:59am
Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Sami deserve to be part of the world cup squad on expense of Iftekhar and Rumman Raees. In our playing eleven Ahmad Shezad, Sharjeel Khan, Hafeez and Umar Akmal should have made Pakistan top order. And then Sarfraz, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim/Nawaz and Afridi should have batted before Wahab, Aamir and Irfan. This could be a very competitive team.
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Feb 22, 2016 01:08am
Well played Islamabad United.
I am starting to believe in my team now. Sharjeel set it up nicely with a belligerent knock and bowlers did the rest.
Islamabad's pace attack (Sami, Irfan) is better than Quetta's (their spinner Nawaz is superior though), so if Islamabad bat well, they have a real chance of winning PSL
In the end Zalmis will rue that last over against Quetta in the 1st playoff. Requiring just 4 runs to win off the last 4 balls, they lost the plot completely by going for needless aerial shots. Calm sensible batting and singles and twos would have done it.
What if Misbah lifts the trophy on Tuesday despite his tuk tuk reputation!!
Could PCB have waited until after the PSL was over to announce World T20 squad?
Hindsight is 20/20 but clearly there are some names (Iftikhar, Khurram, Raees) there which are quite controversial
Sami, Sharjeel (Is Khurram really better than him?) and Rizwan should all consider themselves very unlucky.
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Feb 22, 2016 01:53am
Love to see afridi's head down. He became too arrogant these days. It's good his team is out otherwise he would be on moon.
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Feb 22, 2016 02:14am
It would be a sham on selection comette if they still ignore Sharjeel. Even the foreign commentator has clearly shared his feeling about PAK selection for next 2 event
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Feb 22, 2016 02:31am
Sharjeel is not from Lahore, therefore even if he is picked in T20 squad, with slightest of mistake, like Waqar does for Sarfaraz, he would be dropped.
Players from Karachi should be looking to play for UAE team.Otherwise their fate would be like Mohammad Sami, Fawad Alam, Sharjeel Khan,Ahsan Kamal etc
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Feb 22, 2016 03:12am
If Shahid Afridi can not lead Peshawar Zalmi to the final of PSL then it would be a tall order for him to bring the Asia cup and The World cup to Pakistan. His present form with bat is very meagre, his balling has lost the venom. He lacks leadership wisdom. Misbah has time and shown his impeccable cricketing abilities as well as his leadership qualities. In order to fetch glories for Pakistan cricket, Misbah should return to T-20. Afridi should step aside in the best national interest. In form Sharjeel and M.Sami should reinstated in the side. Shoeb Malik has lost all his magic and has no place in the side, he too should make way for M.Asghar or Imran Khalid.
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Feb 22, 2016 03:12am
I love all the bandwagon sharjeel supporters. If he is so great, why did he not perform when he was given the opportunity. other than 1 inning, what has be brought to his team? The way he swings his bat, its obvious he is a tape ball player, drives his power from swinging across the line. I hate to break it to you, that is not class. Now, had he done this entire tournament and missed once or twice, no matter how unorthodox his style maybe, he would get the call to produce runs. Sharjeel's problem is same as hafeez, both are not able to do what an opening batsman is supposed to do. openers are supposed to see off the new ball, not put pressure on your own team by edging seeming deliveries. hafeez cannot run singles and doubles and relies on boundry hitting for runs and same with sharjeel. For those who support the mantra, the game is changed; Just remember, the fundamentals never change. The more things change, increasingly more they remain the same.
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Feb 22, 2016 04:27am
You have guys noticed that display in captaincy? Afridi vs Misbah vs Sarfraz vs Azhar vs Malik. Its amazing how calm and collected he is, similarly so is his team. While Sarfraz is more engaged and energetic and so is the team. Azhar and Malik looked confused and bored as their teams. I think the two teams that deserved to be in the final are there. But its hard to chose between Sarfraz and Viv or Misbah and Wasim but Im going to go with Quetta. They have more emotions and take the contest to heart. They deserve to win IMO as one of the underdogs in tournament.
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Feb 22, 2016 04:31am
Bad luck Zalmi ! United has proved itself , Congrats !
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Feb 22, 2016 04:34am
Keep your words Afridi, give ur prize to Sharjeel as t20 opener
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Feb 22, 2016 04:56am
@Pakfan Agree. Off the chest on one leg flick for six. Wow! Reminded the great Hanes from WI.
Love to listen to sir Viv Richards comments on Sarjeel's innings....
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Feb 22, 2016 05:26am
@ZABI, Waqar threatened to quit on issue of Khurram as he is against his inclusion in squad. Khurram Manzoor is a wildcard from selection committee and even the PCB head is surprised at his selection. Read a paper before bashing someone for no reason.
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Feb 22, 2016 05:41am
Wonderful inning from Sharjeel.
PSL stars are Mohammad Nawaz, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Asghar and Mohammad Sami.
Sarfraz showed great potential for captainship, his weakest team is in final.
Please fire Malik, Hafeez , Azahr Ali from T20.
They all should be given chance in both T20 and One day,
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Feb 22, 2016 05:44am
good to see Afridi praise Sharjeel.
Good Job Afridi, you showed you are a good man. Sharjeel must in T20 and in One day. Another player I would say Mohammad Sami, what a good bowling he is doing.
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Feb 22, 2016 05:47am
There was a huge celebration in Hyderabad, First player from their city who is making slot in Pakistan team. Well Done Sharjeel Khan, we luv you
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Feb 22, 2016 06:14am
I think Sarjeel and Mohd. Sami are a MUST for Pakistan to win the WC. These two should be in the one day team as well. Best of luck!
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Feb 22, 2016 06:29am
Thanks God Afridi is out of the screen
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Feb 22, 2016 07:30am
The best thing about PSL is to expose what a poor job the selectors and PCB are doing in selecting a national side for the short forms and the so called superstars in the team. Those given chances again and again couldn't even perform at the national level, while little known youngsters totally exposed the myths that Pakistan still needs those tried and failed again and again! It is also great to see some international superstars like Sangakara and Kevin Pieterson teaming up with Pakistani youngsters, which should bode real well for them.
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Feb 22, 2016 08:09am
Afridi's arragance and over confidence plus bad performance has led to his downfall !
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Feb 22, 2016 08:15am
Great show. Loved it.
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Feb 22, 2016 09:00am
See how PCB selectors, coach and captain discriminates players from Karachi or Sindh, and lie to Pakistanis. For instance, Sharjeel was given chance in only 3 T20I. Last T20I he played was in Dec 2013. In that match, he made 50 runs in 25 balls as opener, more than any player. What happened after that? Sharjeel was dropped permanently ... while PCB selectors, coach and captain after loosing games, kept complaining that Pakistan lack openers. Here is Sharjeel last T20I for Pakistan:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/657635.html
Now, can anyone ask PCB chairman, selectors, coaches and Captains, that a player who made 50 runs in 25 balls, more runs than any player in that T20I game, how can selectors dropped him in next match and then permanently?
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Feb 22, 2016 09:11am
Whichever cricketing team Afrdi is going to lead as a captain will never be a championship winner. Therefore Pakistani fans can kiss goodbye the upcoming WT20 tournament unless Sarfraz is named the captain miraculously before the start of the tournament.
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Feb 22, 2016 09:14am
Authority and experience of Wasim akram speaks itself. if this was not wasim , saeed ajmal would have lashed out like younis khan after being left out !As for afridi ,he already knew he gonna lose the game otherwise why he would left out Tamim Iqbal , the highest run scorer of his team wish good luck to pakistani team under afridi!
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Feb 22, 2016 09:15am
@Zabi, this is utter nonsense and shows Waqar's poor judgment.
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Feb 22, 2016 09:16am
congrads to United ...they are reaching their peak performance at the right time ...expecting a great cricket game in the final ..as both teams are well balanced ...Peshawar started well but they were depending on some one doing miracle batting ..and unfortunately it didn't happen ...but one fact is for sure. Peshawar had the highest fan following of all teams ..all the best to Afridi in T20 world cup ..hope he is able to find some form in batting ...
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Feb 22, 2016 09:18am
Sad to see some comments from Karachi people over selection of Sharjeel Khan and all the 'cry baby attitude'. Let us see, how Sharjeel has performed in PSL. 117 in the yesterday's match and prior to that 9, 5, 1, 28, 2, 79, 28, 8, and 10. So if an innings is enough to such a hue and cry and calls of discrimination then it appears whole of the Karachi and Hyderabad should be included in the team!!!
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Feb 22, 2016 09:21am
@The Outsider Hard to beat Wasim Akram and Misbah!
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Feb 22, 2016 09:24am
The question is that all these players who scored so high during the league, can they play the same way in the international matches, I don't think they can.
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Feb 22, 2016 09:29am
congrads to United ...they are reaching their peak performance at the right time ...expecting a great cricket game in the final ..as both teams are well balanced ...and Misbah the captain cool ..how well is he leading the team even after Shane Watson departure ....Peshawar started well but they were depending on some one doing miracle batting ..and unfortunately it didn't happen ...but one fact is for sure. Peshawar had the highest fan following of all teams ..all the best to Afridi in T20 world cup ..hope he is able to find some form with batting ...
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Feb 22, 2016 09:55am
Where are the people who said this whole PSL is fixed and PZ will play in final????
Very good come back of IU. Good Luck PSL
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Feb 22, 2016 09:59am
The overwhelming success of PSL has once again put Pakistan cricket on the very forefront. PCB should not worry about staging such mega events in Pakistan, it's OK in UAE. There is no need to stage international cricket in Pakistan now. PCB should concentrate in the coming 2 mega cricket events, the Asia cup & Works cup.
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Feb 22, 2016 10:49am
PakIstani selectors, coaches & people in management all are useless they dont know how select a team what to do with players they only care about thier salaries..
How come sharjel & and M Sami are not the team ? What is the criteria of selection? What iftikhar and manzoor are doing in Asia cup squad? What dawn news is doing on that? Why they have not highlighted such issue? To many questions to many irresponsible people who are taking salaries they don't deserve Pakistan.
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Feb 22, 2016 11:20am
@Zabi Really?
Perhaps Waqar needs a sanity check?
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Feb 22, 2016 11:26am
@Philosopher (from Japan)
WHAT "ARROGANCE"???????
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Feb 22, 2016 01:37pm
for me the biggest disappointment in the PSL has been Imad Wasim, and that is not a good sign for the AsiaCup and World T20.
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Feb 22, 2016 02:03pm
@salman Is it because the team belongs to KPK or is it because they were the most favorite team of PSL?, FYI grounds were at full capacity only when Peshawar Zalmi was playing, I smell some jealousy here.
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Feb 22, 2016 02:10pm
@Shazad Bring a player like Javed miandad, zaheer abbas etc and then complain about discrimination if PCB still didn't pick players from Sindh. Currently Sindh has no extra ordinary talent to be picked from, they could only be good in domestic and league cricket, perhaps not fit for international arena.
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Feb 22, 2016 02:13pm
@shuaib You are ignoring the fact that Sharjeel was dropped from the team two years ago after scoring 50 runs from 25 balls. Players like Sarfraz, Sami, Shahzaib hasan, Khalid Latif and Sharjeel have to prove again and again that they deserve place in national team. OTHERS get unlimited chances to prove themselves until they completely fail. The "cry baby attitude" is not the result of just one instance, there is a series of injustices which is nurturing this attitude.
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Feb 22, 2016 03:53pm
First of all Congrats to cool headed Misbah for the steady win now their will be a battle of coolness of Misbah and aggression of Sarfaraz in PSL final and that will be worth watching. Congrats to PSL management and PCB for a great display of commitment to the Pakistan Cricket and presenting a show Hit by every means despite of so many ifs and Buts. Responding to few comments here, I guess Sharjeel is a good choice for any replacement if required from the announced squad, though he needs to work over his cross bat strategy and unnecessary efforts of pulling Off side ball to On side. For now people must back Khurram and he should get opportunity to prove himself in Asia Cup as there will be huge chances that if he fails he will be replaced immediately with Sharjeel. The focus now must be over playing eleven selected by Captain Afridi and Team Management. Hoping for the best from team Pakistan in upcoming Days.
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Feb 22, 2016 05:01pm
@Dr.Sadaf : Surely, no one can predict how a particular player would play and make runs in any game, selected or left-out. Only thing one can say is that a player with better Ave and SR would perform better.
Eg: 'Bradman' wanted 4 runs in last ings to keep his test Ave ('100') but he got out for a duck. So, one cannot predict what Bradman would make in next innings.
But, since Bradman average is ~100, one can expect that Bradman would make lot more runs than most other players. Expectations is from players past performance and no expectations can be certainty.
Unfortunately, for corrupt PCB officials full of discrimination, provincialism, biases and Parchi selection, performance means nothing. For instance:
Sharjeel: Ave 29.0 and SR 142.
Fawad: Ave 32.5 and SR 122.
are no good for national team. But
Hafeez: Ave 24 and SR 124.
K Akmal: Ave 24.5 and SR 127
A Shahzad: Ave 29 and SR 126
U Akmal: Ave 30.5 and SR 130
are so good that without them, Pakistan cricket is incomplete.
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