LAHORE – The HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 has caught the imagination ofsome of the biggest stars of the crash, bang and wallop T20 format. All sixparticipating teams have assembled mega stars of the game from around theworld and with the league heading towards its business end, these playershave expressed their joy at how enjoyable their stints have been with theirrespective sides.
While, Pakistanis have provided their traditional hospitality, the playershave enjoyed tremendous support in the hugely competitive league whereevery run scored and wicket taken has to be properly earned by the playersdue to the high quality of talent available in each squad.
Defending champions Quetta Gladiators, two-time champions Islamabad Unitedand 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi are all locked in a fierce battle forthree available play-off spots along with the two biggest franchises interms of crowd support, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars.
The only team so far to confirm their berth in the play-off is MultanSultans with a tally of 11 points from seven games (five wins, one loss andone no-result).
Sultans’ all-rounder and England’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 winner MoeenAli has felt the excitement and buzz of the HBL PSL especially in hisside’s hometown Multan.
Moeen Ali said on Monday : “The atmosphere in Multan on all game days wasunbelievable. You could clearly sense the passion the people have for theirteam and the game. We were particularly moved by the hospitality, love andsupport offered by the people of Multan who took ownership of the team andwe are grateful to them for their incredible hospitality.
“With regards to the facilities, the stadium in Multan is one of the mostbeautiful from around the world and the pitches there were perfect for T20cricket, offering something both for the batsmen and the bowlers. “We sawgood quality cricket there, hopefully in the next year we will play all ourhome games in Multan.”
Second-placed Zalmi have had a mixed run in the tournament, however, theteam continues to ride on a popularity wave across the country and havereceived frenzied support in Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
English batsman Liam Livingstone, who wore the Karachi Kings shirt in theHBL PSL 2019, is looking forward to the challenge of the all-to-play-forlast week of the group stage under captain Wahab Riaz.
Liam Livingstone said: “Last few weeks have been crucial and it feels likewe are gaining momentum at the right end of the tournament. You want topeak towards the end of the tournament, not at the start. So far, Wahab hasbeen very good and it is a seamless transition from Daren Sammy (ascaptain). Wahab is a very relaxed character who has total confidence in hisskill so he can lead from the front.
“The crowds have been excellent, most games have been packed and thesupport we have received from the Zalmi fans has been excellent. There isalways a sea of yellow wherever we play, especially at Pindi where theatmosphere has been incredible. Hopefully that carries on for the rest ofthe tournament and fingers crossed for the play-offs.”
Currently placed third on the table, United have an uphill qualificationtask as they have just one group game left (versus Karachi Kings, 14March). A win might not be enough for them to ensure their progress as theymight have to rely on other results.
United have been well served by their foreign stars so far with legendarySouth Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn thoroughly enjoying his return toPakistan for the first time since 2007.Steyn praised the untiring efforts of the Pindi Cricket Stadium groundstaff, who put relentless efforts to get the games underway at the venuedespite a heavy rain laden last week.
Dale Steyn said: “I’ve really enjoyed being back. The people have been sowelcoming, I can just see it in their faces that they’ve missed havingteams come play cricket here and are so excited by the presence of all theoverseas players.
“The ground staff in Pindi was exceptional, getting us on the park with allthis rain and allowing the fans to enjoy some cricket has been world-class.
“Hopefully we can repay the fans of Islamabad back with a good win inKarachi and possibly set us up for the finals.”
Karachi Kings also have a massive week coming up; the Karachi-basedfranchise will enjoy home support as they look to seal one of the fourplay-off berths. They play all three remaining games under the NationalStadium’s floodlights.
Kings have one of the most formidable top-order in the tournament with thetop-ranked T20I player Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan and Englishman Alex Halesproviding fireworks in the opening overs.
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Hales is the top run-getter so far for Kings with a tally of 239 runs,which includes two half-centuries, at 59.75. The big-hitting right-handeris enjoying his batting stints with both Babar and Sharjeel.
Alex Hales said: “Having those two at the top of the order is a realstrength of ours. The right-hand left-hand combo is very useful and theyare both completely different players and hit the ball in different areas,which can be difficult for bowlers to adjust their plans every otherdelivery.
“We can’t wait to get back to Karachi, the support we had there are thestart of the tournament was absolutely fantastic. I hope that it’s threemore sold out crowds and they can give us that extra edge over ouropposition.
“If we play how we know we’re capable of playing, we should qualify in thetop two which is what we set out to do at the start of the tournament.”
Lahore Qalandars have come alive with back-to-back wins against QuettaGladiators and Karachi Kings. Their victories have propelled them to thefifth spot.
Batsman Ben Dunk has smashed sixes at will and has played an integral rolein Qalandars’ turn with contributions of 99 not out and 93 in two out ofthe three Qalandars’ victories. His 23 sixes are so far the most by anybatsman in the HBL PSL 2020.
Dunk has become a superstar in Lahore, the left-handed Australianbig-hitter is humbled by the love and adulation he has received in hisside’s hometown.
Ben Dunk said: “The crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium has been absolutelyfantastic. With the tournament becoming even more exciting, the support forthe teams, in fact the whole event, has grown manifolds with spectatorsgetting even more impassioned about the game.
“The spectators at the Gaddafi Stadium have convinced me that at least inLahore there is just one team to play for. I am really looking forward tothe rest of the event, as we will give it our absolute all to ensurequalification in the play-offs especially since two of the play-off gamesare in Lahore including the final. Qalandars in the final will make for anunbelievable atmosphere.”
Defending champions Gladiators are enduring a slump and are at the risk ofelimination before the play-off stage.
Currently languishing at the bottom of the table, Gladiators need to winboth their remaining games (against Multans Sultans on 11 March and KarachiKings on 15 March) to stand a chance of securing a top-four spot.
Batsman Shane Watson – the man of the tournament in the 2019 edition – willhave a crucial role to play if Gladiators are to get over the line in thelast two group games. Watson has termed the HBL PSL in Pakistan an ‘amazingexperience.’
Shane Watson said: “It’s been amazing to play at all four venues inPakistan. The stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan werefilled to their capacities by passionate spectators. This is what the HBLPSL should be all about, inspiring the next generation to take up the gameof cricket.
“We will do our best to win the last two games and book a place in theplayoffs with an aim of fighting for our title till the very last.”
Seven group games are left out of which three will be played in Lahore,while Karachi’s National Stadium will host four.
The play-offs commence from 18 March, while tournament’s last three gamesincluding the last two play-offs and final will be played in Lahore’sGaddafi Stadium.
