Lions are as good as anyone, says Hafeez

Lahore outfit captain bullish about team’s chances in CLT20.

KARACHI: Lahore Lions captain Muhammad Hafeez sent out a strong message to the Champions League T20 (CLT20) Group A participants, stating that his team’s limited exposure as compared to big Indian Premier League (IPL) sides should not be taken lightly.

Group A includes IPL heavyweights Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Australia’s Perth Scorchers, South Africa’s Dolphins and Lahore Lions.

“In T20 cricket, its talent that matters and I believe we are rich in that aspect,” said Hafeez.

“If you look at the names, then these teams look stronger and their exposure is far greater than that ours. All teams are good, but my message to the players is that they shouldn’t think less of themselves.”

Lions became the first team from Pakistan to qualify for the lucrative CLT20 main round, a feat which has eluded the country’s domestic teams in the past, with Sialkot Stallions and Faisalabad Wolves failing to progress to the group round.

The Lahore-based outfit stunned star-studded Mumbai Indians and qualified along with New Zealand’s Northern Knights.

Hafeez added that most of the players made encouraging contributions, and have done well as a unit which has boosted the entire team’s confidence.

“Be it Umar Akmal’s finishing in the first qualifier or the Aizaz Cheema’s bowling, the contribution has been varying and heartening. Wahab Riaz has been exceptional with the ball as well, and has received good support from the likes of Adnan Rasool and Imran Ali.

“Similarly youngsters Saad Naseem and Umar Siddique have shown great promise.”

Lions’ first match in the main round will be against KKR on Sunday. 

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