RAWALPINDI: The HBL Pakistan Super League fell prey to the incessant rains in Rawalpindi as the much-anticipated clash of two-time former champions Islam­abad United and Peshawar Zalmi, the 2017 winners, was called off here at a heavily drenched Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The first abandonment in the fifth edition was a foregone conclusion since it has been raining literally non-stop since the early hours of Saturday. At the time of filing this report, there were doubts being expressed about the next game, featuring Islamabad United and Karachi Kings, despite the weather bureau’s prediction of Sunday to be sunny.

At present, there are massive puddles of water spread around the tarpaulins covering the square and the bowling run-ups at both ends but according to locals here they would dry up in no time provided there is no further rain and adequate sunshine because the soil underneath the surface quickly absorbs accumulated water.

While Islamabad and Peshawar shared the two points on offer for each match that was officially declared abandoned by on-field umpires Ranmore Martinesz and Tariq Rasheed at 6:52pm, the talking point of this PSL remains the non-performing Lahore Qalandars, who have lost all three of their fixtures thus far.

Qalandars’ latest loss — against Peshawar Zalmi in the truncated encounter here on Friday night — was their 27th in 39 matches since the inception of PSL in 2016, while emerging winners just 10 times.

In each of the previous four editions they occupied the bottom spot and their overall statistics make an extremely sad reading because current leaders Multan Sultans — who were the last franchise to join the PSL in 2018 — have already won one game than the Qalandars and have lost 13 of the 25 appearances. Multan’s success ratio of 45.83 is far superior to Qalandars’ 28.20.

Friday’s post-match media presser — after the Qalandars had lost to Zalmi by 16 runs in the 12-over tie — was a clear indicator there are big worrying signs in the camp. Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who has been the head coach from the start of PSL, rarely faces the media.

The conspicuous absence of Aaqib has never been explained by the team management and whoever is sent to face the volley of hard-hitting queries from reporters never gives the real insight into the behind-the-scene issues engulfing the franchise.

Fakhar Zaman, who came to the latest presser, was lost for words and was interrupted by Sameen Rana, the Qalandars team manager who also doubles up as the media manager, when the question was directly posed towards Fakhar, who was at least thrice prevented from completing the answer.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2020