KARACHI: The final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) will catch the attractionof around 25 million people around the world, which the officials ofPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are terming unprecedented in the cricketinghistory of Pakistan.
“PCB expects historic turnout of people on electronic and digital platformsfor watching the PSL final,” an official of PCB told Business Recorder.
The two top teams – Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi will clash in the‘all-tickets-sold-out’ final at the National Stadium Sunday. The match willstart at 8pm, however, the closing ceremony will begin at 6pm.
Spain’s football star Carles Puyol would be a special guest at the closingceremony. The Barcelona central defender earned 100 international caps andwon the Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup 2010.
Quetta have beaten Peshawar in both the league matches this season, beforehaving the better of their arch-rivals in the Wednesday’s qualifier at theback of a powerful performance, but they are wary of a ‘knock-out’ by DarenSammy-led Peshawar Zalmi. Despite beating Peshawar in the qualifiers in2016 and 2017 in thrilling last-over finishes by one-run, Quetta lost inthe 2017 final by 58 runs in Lahore and in the eliminator 1 last year.
Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hoped it will be a case of ‘third-timelucky’. “We are playing the final for the third time, so we will do ourbest to play in the same manner which we had adopted throughout thetournament,” Sarfaraz told mediapersons.
“If you look at previous years, there were some factors which hurt us assome players didn’t come,” said Sarfaraz recalling the Lahore final whenKevin Pietersen and Rilee Rossouw refused to come to Pakistan citingsecurity reasons.
Last year, Watson decided to stay away for the Eliminators in Lahore,leaving Quetta depleted. But this time Watson, who has amassed 423 runs inthe tournament, made a late decision to visit Karachi. “This time, we areat our full strength, so we will do our best to play like we have done andwin the tournament.” Peshawar skipper Sammy admitted Watson has plagued histeam.
“Shane Watson has really been the pain for us,” said Sammy of the formerAustralia opener, who has 265 runs at 66.25 in five matches againstPeshawar in two years. “He is pretty experience and he is enjoying hisform.”
But Sammy hoped his team will give another knock-out punch. “Hopefully,it’s a cracker of a game and we find ways and means to execute our plansagainst them and we will need that but that Shane Watson guy is pain forus.”
Quetta have mostly chased targets and their two wins against Peshawar cameby six and eight wickets, respectively before they had the better of theirrivals by 10 runs in the play-off in Karachi.
Sarfaraz said he was looking for a good platform from his top-order.“Watson and Umar Akmal are quality players.” Besides Watson, Umar (277 runsin 11 matches), Rossouw (256 in 10 matches) and Shahzad (253 runs in sevenmatches) are in good nick.
Peshawar are more reliant on Kamran Akmal, who Sammy described as his“match-winner”, having knocked off 336 runs in 12 games. Peshawar also haspowerful pace attack, led by tournament’s highest wicket-taker Hasan Aliwho has 25 wickets in 12 matches. Experienced pacer Wahab Riaz has 16,followed by Sameen Gul (10), and Tymal Mills and Umaid Asif (seven each).
Sarfaraz admitted Fawad Ahmed is doubtful after being hit on the mouth inthe Qualifier against Peshawar, which needed a surgery.
Sammy hoped it will be other crackers of a game before a sell-out crowd.“We have some good players, not superstars but effective players. To beable to make three consecutive finals in a row is an achievement. “Winningthe final tomorrow will really be the icing on the cake,” Sammy said.