Bopara rues Karachi’s close losses

All-rounder feels his side could have had at least two more victories had they played more sensibly

DUBAI: English all-rounder Ravi Bopara believes his Karachi Kings side could well have been sitting on four wins had they played just a bit better during the business end of certain matches in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators on 10 points — are already through to the next round — while Islamabad United are sitting pretty in third place on six points and a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Karachi. This therefore leaves the country’s two biggest cities — Karachi and Lahore — fighting for the final spot in the playoffs.

If both Karachi and Lahore Qalandars finish on the same number of points, a not entirely unlikely scenario, then Karachi would go through courtesy of their better head-to-head record; both their wins have come against Lahore.



“When it comes to the number of matches won, we could have asked for a better [tally],” said Bopara, while talking to The Express Tribune. “I know we have two victories but we could easily have been sitting on four.”

The matches that are especially irking the experienced limited overs specialist are the ones that went right down to the wire. “Had we played just a bit smarter cricket towards the back end of our innings in the matches we lost by three or so runs [then we may have won],” he said, before adding they are still a feared outfit despite their run of poor results. “Other teams realise we are a genuine threat.”

Bopara said that the players needed a different approach in Dubai, where the pitch is a bit slower and the batsmen have to adjust themselves before really going after the bowlers.



“It’s good to have three-dimensional cricketers. When you have that sort of players in the side, it becomes very good for T20s,” said Bopara, discussing the high number of all-rounders present in the Karachi side. “I have this belief that every batsman should practice his bowling because that makes a big difference. In T20 cricket, you don't need to be a master as a bowler, you just got to have some control with little bit of variation.”

On being left out of England's T20I squad for the upcoming World T20, Bopara said it is never too late to perform and vowed to keep his form going.

“It’s never too late for anything,” he said. “It’s always nice to play good cricket and that is what I'll keep doing it. Thankfully, I'm doing well with both bat and ball, and I would like to steer Karachi through.”