Umar Akmal sizzles as Qalandars beat Gladiators by 63 runs
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Umar Akmal silenced his critics with a 40-ball 93 to help Lahore Qalandars register their first win and end Quetta Gladiators' unbeaten run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Umar, who had been under fire for his recent off-field antics, strengthened his case for the World T20 in a blistering knock which included eight sixes and six boundaries and propelled Lahore to 194/3, the PSL's highest total.
Gladiators vs Qalandars - As it happened
The Pakistan middle-order batsman was ably supported by South Africa's Cameron Delport who hit 73 off 55 balls to dent the bowling figures of Quetta. Umar Gul came in for some real treatment, conceding 50 from four overs while emerging star Mohammad Nawaz went for 31 from his three overs.
In the chase, Quetta suffered the worst possible starts, losing Ahmed Shehzad, Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen inside the powerplay.
Nawaz (42) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (31) combined in a solid stand to give the response some impetus, Quetta were dismissed for 131 in a stunning collapse, losing the last seven wickets for just 21 runs.
Left-arm off spinner, Zafar Gohar, also a potential candidate for the World T20 squad, picked up 4/14 in 3.2 overs to give Azhar Ali's Qalandars a much-needed win.
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On DawnNews
Comments (26) Closed
Feb 09, 2016 01:09am
qalandars the name itself makes me laugh...it should have been Lahore lions. I wonder who came up with this name qalandars
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Feb 09, 2016 01:13am
PCB is getting spoiled for choices. I like that :)
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Feb 09, 2016 01:21am
Once in a blue moon.
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Feb 09, 2016 02:04am
A guy who averaged 65 in both his inaugural ODI and test series now does not get a chance in the team. This credit goes to the management who successfully mutilated not only his confidence but also to prove his capability. In T20 he is asked to bat at number 6 where he has to hit from the very beginning and again get rebuked for playing rash shots. Even in the last series, he was the top scorer in the series, but still the one of the two guys who were named culprits.
He is the only batsman in current Pak team who fits the definition of modern batsmen when 350/400 run is not uncommon even in 50 overs cricket. Give him responsibility, let him bat at 1 or 2 down in all formats.
Discipline issue? Which great player of Pakistan has not that issue and when did last Pakistan was a formidable team because of its disciplined approach to the game?
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Feb 09, 2016 02:05am
This is the best we have at the moment , do don't have dhoni or kohli nor inzamam ... Just learn to respect the best we have .if anyone better emerges then we can drop akmal !!!
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Feb 09, 2016 03:13am
Well played Lahore Qalandars and specially Umar Akmal. Quetta should replace Umar Gul with Aizaz Cheema or Bilal Asif and bring in Abdul Rahman in place of Elton Chigumbura as the wicket is taking spin
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Feb 09, 2016 03:29am
Give a few chances to the talented batsman Navid yasin.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:49am
Too late, and also at the wrong time at the wrong place.
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Feb 09, 2016 04:54am
One knock in a match that does not matter. I bet you 100 dollars he is not gonna play like this internationally.
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Feb 09, 2016 06:16am
Pretty wise - delivers at that eleventh hour, just to retain a place in the squad. This, however, does not gives a reliability label. If these kind of players, perform in these formats (x Super Leagues), they might be a right fit in this equation - certainly not in the more formal and tougher ball games - T20, One Day, and Test fixtures...
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Feb 09, 2016 06:30am
So good to watch him hitting Gul and Anwar. He is a really talented player if he can control his temper.
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Feb 09, 2016 08:45am
@Just here what is wrong in that name? In contrary to your dislike for the name, I find it very soothing because it relates to our Sufi traditions to promote love and harmony. In fact, there should have been more names of the teams like it to show love for your heritage and peace than funny and wild looking names like kings, gladiators, united and zalmy is acceptable however.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:37am
why Ahmed Shahzad is smiling for ? come on This PSL not a friendly match.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:48am
Not a big feat against mediocre bowling on a flat pitch.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:53am
@Bozdar totally agree with you bozdar. Shahzad should be fined for showing friendly attitude towards his opponent. He should take it professionally. This is not an alley match.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:55am
What a terrible captsincy by sarfraz. Why wasn't fawad alam picked instead of chewinggumbarra and umar Gul should've been replaced by a left arm spinner. And anwar Ali should've been sent in at number 5 or 6.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:55am
Believe their is club of cricketer who do nothing in matches and was about to drop out performance come. Ahmed shahzad now umar akmal. (bhai bhai). Useless, good for doing nothing.
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Feb 09, 2016 10:30am
Why not showing the crowd strength
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Feb 09, 2016 10:31am
What one innings after ten bad one you call it an achievement?
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Feb 09, 2016 11:08am
Use him at no 3 in Pak line up
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Feb 09, 2016 11:15am
All these comments over here make me laugh. Didn't Akmal scored a 25 ball fifty against Kiwis in New Zealand few days ago? He also batted very well in first T20 too. The point is that Umar Akmal isn't world class but he is best we have got. No one else is putting his hand up in domestic or PSL so far. That was a fantastic innings against some of the best bowlers in PSL. Baber, Anwar, Gull and even Nawaz (soon to be) are Pakistan international bowlers and that was a difficult pitch to bat as well. Go Qalandars.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:19am
@UNAIR My point is he (Shahzad) should have been worried to score those runs instead he was smiling shame on him he should have been more serious toward his own batting. look in the same batting friendly pitch he was bowled by cooper for 15 runs. he is doing what Imran Nazir did and now we do not hear his name or find him anywhere trust me days are not far where he'll be vanished from Pakistan Cricket team when Shahid Afridi retired.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:45am
@Cricket-One It is never too late
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Feb 09, 2016 11:46am
Umar Akmal is the best batsman for Pakistan in T20s as well as ODIs
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Feb 09, 2016 11:53am
Umar Akmal should play at No.3 in the national team also. He should also be included in ODI and Tests to learn temperament
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Feb 09, 2016 02:19pm
@Steve Bucknor BRAVO, well said Sir! Umar Akmal is a rare talent. Shame on the management for not being able to groom him!
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