PQA to rely on spin in semi-final today

Opponents HBL count on experienced players in Ramazan T20 tie.

KARACHI: PQA are looking to set up a spin trap for their opponents HBL in the second semi-final of Advance Telecom Ramadan T20 Cup that is scheduled to be played today at the National Stadium.

Plenty of stars will be seen in action as HBL will have the likes of Younus Khan, Imran Farhat and Hasan Raza in their line-up while PQA enjoys the luxury of possessing explosive hitters Shahzaib Hasan, Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor and Kamran Younis.

Both teams have enjoyed a contrasting run leading up to the semi-finals as HBL had to struggle hard to reach the top. They were tied with two other teams in Group A on four points but topped the table courtesy a better net run-rate.



Meanwhile, PQA dominated Group B with three straight wins and six points to confirm their place in the last-four.

However, PQA suffered an unexpected loss in their last group match against SNGPL.

“We’re aiming to go with a spin-dominated bowling attack against HBL,” PQA official and former Test cricketer Rashid Latif told The Express Tribune.

“Tabish Nawab and Azam Hussain have already impressed everyone and we have another option of introducing leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed.

“The pitches in this tournament have provided ample turn for spinners so that is what we have in our mind.”

Latif added that speedsters Abdur Rauf and Mohammad Talha also have the capability to surprise batsmen on slower tracks.

Meanwhile, an HBL player stated that despite PQA being a better T20 team he believed his side would beat them because of having experienced players.

“We have Younus, Hasan and Imran who all are very experienced and that is what is missing from PQA ranks,” he said.

“Hopefully that could turn out to be an important factor for us.”

ZTBL beat NBP in dead rubber

Meanwhile, ZTBL defeated NBP by nine wickets in the last group match of the tournament in a rain-affected encounter.

Batting first, NBP had to struggle to post 127 for four in their 20 overs.

Skipper Kamran Akmal top-scored with 55 off 45 with two sixes and half-a-dozen boundaries while Fawad Alam played a slow 35-ball knock which resulted in 33 runs.

In reply, ZTBL were given a revised target of 82 in nine overs that they achieved in 7.2 overs with Babar Azam scoring 32 off 15 deliveries.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2013.

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