“Dimond of Potohar”Shining in Desert Nawaz and Englishman Wright dismantle Islamabad United in PSL opener,
DUBAI: by Asghar Ali Mubarak
The Pakistan Super League has been hailed by many as a pipeline for young talent to break into the world stage and Dimond of Potohar “Shining in Desert” Rawalpindi born 21-year old left-arm spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz took the opportunity to do so in the tournament opener as his 4 for 13 set up Quetta Gladiators’ eight-wicket victory over Islamabad United in Dubai.The Pakistan fans have had to wait years to have a T20 league of their own. An extensive opening ceremony made them wait some more and the match only began at 9.30 pm. Quetta’s captain Sarfaraz Ahmed opted to bowl and it proved a wise decision as his new-ball bowlers kept Islamabad tied down for much of the innings. None of the top five batsmen were able to cross 15 runs and Nawaz was responsible for dismissing three of them. Nawaz has already been earmarked as a future prospect with Pakistan having turned out for the ‘A’ team in the recent series against England Lions at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai. He took 11 wickets from five matches and struck a half-century as well .Islamabad were 63 for 6 in the 15th over when their captain Misbah-ul-Haq (41 off 28) and Andre Russell (35 off 20) slammed 57 runs in 27 balls to lend some respectability to the total. Russell caned Umar Gul for three fours and a six in the 18th over and Misbah carved Anwar Ali, who had bowled a maiden to kick start the PSL, for three fours in the 19th over.It was Still a chase that was barely over run-a-ball asks very little of batsmen and when someone from the top order scores a half-century off 31 balls, the result becomes quite apparent. Luke Wright finished unbeaten with 86 off 53 balls with 11 fours and four sixes to wrap the match up with 24 balls to spare. The England’s Twenty20 specialist Luke Wright scored a breezy unbeaten 86 to help his side Quetta Gladiators to record the first victory of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) against Islamabad United by 8 wickets here at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing down a mediocre target of 129, Wright showed no respect to any of Islamabad’s bowlers hitting 4 sixes and 10 fours in his innings. Mohammad Nawaz, who took four wickets in restricting Islamabad to 128 for 7, also remained not out on run a ball 22.Gladiators achieved their target with full four overs in hand. Earlier, Islamabad United skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Andre Russell tried to resurrect the disappointing innings after they were reduced to 63 for 6 in the 15th over. Misbah however trapped by a slow bouncer by Anwar Ali in the penultimate over after scoring 41 in 28 balls. Russell remained not out on 35 off 20 balls.Rookie bowler Nawaz took four wickets for only 13 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Umar Gul shared a wicket each for the Gladiators.The Quetta Gladiator captain Sarfraz Ahmed had won the toss and invited Islamabad United skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to bat first earlier in the evening.The two sides had a strong domestic contingent. As many as eight players from the set-up have played for Pakistan speaking to media Sarfraz said, “There was the dew factor, and batting was not easier later. Misbah on the occasion said: “Quetta Gladiators played well and won the match.The Teams was Quetta Gladiators: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), KP Pietersen, LJ Wright, E Chigumbura, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar,Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Nabi, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Islamabad United: Shane Watson, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Amin, Babar Azam, SW Billings, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), AD Russell, S Badree, Mohammad Irfan, Rumman Raees, the match was followed by an impressive show of light, colour and music in which renowned Pakistani and international superstars including Ali Zafar, Sean Paul, Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed performed.There is five franchises partaking in the cricket league named after each provincial capital and the federal capital of Pakistan. The Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United will compete with each other to lift the trophy.The top two teams will play the first qualifier, while the loser of the 1st qualifier and winner of the 2nd playoff will meet in playoff. Winners of play off 1 and 3 will meet in the final. There will be a total of twenty-four matches (day/night) in the tournament. Fifteen Matches, including all three play offs and final will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The other nine fixtures will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
