National T20 Cup: Peshawar keen to continue domestic dominance

Skipper Zohaib hopes side can improve further in semis


Our Correspondent September 12, 2016
Peshawar lived up to their billing as the favourites with five wins in five, but then lost their next two games. PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

KARACHI: Two-time defending champions Peshawar are keen to make it a hat-trick of titles after winning five of their seven group matches in the National T20 Cup to qualify for the semi-finals at a canter.

Peshawar have qualified for the semis alongside Lahore Whites, Karachi Whites and Karachi Blues but morale and confidence in the Peshawar camp is high, and skipper Zohaib Khan says his side are up for the semis, despite losing their last two group games on the trot.

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“The last two matches were a wake-up call for the entire team,” he said. “We are now into the semi-finals stage and we cannot take any risks there.”

Peshawar lost their final two games to Karachi Blues and Lahore Whites, and Zohaib knows they can’t repeat those mistakes against their fellow semi-finalists.  “We had a perfect opening to the tournament and won the first five matches,” he said, before pinpointing the area where they had previously excelled. “What is lacking now is that previously we had strong opening partnerships that helped us win matches but that didn’t happen in the last two games.”

Islamabad climb above Lahore Blues with win

Meanwhile, Karachi Whites skipper Akbarur Rehman is also looking forward to the semis. “Lahore Whites and Peshawar are strong teams but we will try our best to win the semi-final,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2016.

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