Super8 T20 Cup: Several key names missing as premier event kicks off
Many of the players featuring for Pakistan, Pakistan A and English county clubs
The tournament, which begins on Monday, is going to be noteworthy as much for the players that are featuring as it will be for those who aren’t. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Eight regional teams are all set to vie for the Super8 T20 Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, with a spot in the coveted T20 Champions League on the line.
The tournament, which begins on Monday, is going to be noteworthy as much for the players that are featuring as it will be for those who aren’t. Several key players are taking part in other leagues across the world, while others will return from Bangladesh after representing Pakistan less than 24 hours before the first match kicks off.
Karachi Dolphins will be talisman Shahid Afridi, who will be taking part in the English county and will therefore not be available for the event.
A few other Karachi players — including Khurram Manzoor, Fawad Alam, Mir Hamza and leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed — are part of the Pakistan A squad currently playing three four-day matches against Sri Lanka.
Sarfraz Ahmed will be leading the team but will only arrive from Bangladesh on Friday night, so will not be taking to the field on Saturday.
While Dolphins coach Tauseef Ahmed said that the absence of the players, especially of Afridi, will be felt, he believes the team has enough arsenal to be a handful for any side. The Dolphins side is likely to feature the likes of Anwar Ali and Muhammad Sami in their pace attack, while Muhammad Waqar and Fazal Subhan will be looking to hold the batting together in the absence of the more famous names.
Ahmed revealed that Sarfraz will feature in Karachi’s first match against the Lahore Lions on May 12. “We did not choose any other wicketkeeper in place of Sarfaraz as his presence was confirmed for the first match,” said Ahmed.
Abbottabad Falcons, playing against Rawalpindi Rams on Monday, will also be missing several players such as skipper Younus Khan and bowling duo Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah due to their international commitments, with former Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed leading the line in Younus’ absence.
“The first match will be difficult for us as several key players would not be able to play but our players will give their best to get a positive result,” said Falcons president Zahid Saeed.
Rawalpindi Rams, on the other hand, will be missing three key players; Awais Zia and Yasir Arafat will be playing county cricket, while Umar Amin is with Pakistan A.
The Sohail Tanvir-led Rams will have the services of left-arm Test pacer Muhammad Amir who has recently performed well in the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II.
Meanwhile, defending champions Lahore Lions still look the strongest side on paper. Kamran Akmal will lead the Lions side that includes Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed and Wahab Riaz.
“We have a strong team and I am confident we will defend the title,” said Kamran.
Multan Tigers will miss three key players — Muhammad Irfan, Sohaib Maqsood and Rahat Ali — due to injuries but still boast the likes of Gulraiz Sadaf, Zulfiqar Babar, Naveed Yasin and Aamir Yamin.
Hosts Faisalabad Wolves will be led by Test skipper Misbahul Haq and includes internationals Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Talha. Faisalabad chief Hamid Mansoor is confident that home advantage and Misbah will help his side in the competition. “Misbah is in good touch and we will have home advantage to compliment our balanced team,” he said, firing a warning to the other teams.
Shoaib Malik will lead the Sialkot Stallions, who have Haris Sohail, Bilawal Bhatti and Mukhtar Ahmed in their ranks. However, Haris and Bilawal will miss the first match due to other commitments.
Peshawar Panthers, who won the last National T20 Championship, will be led by Rafatullah Mohmand and can also call upon the likes of Muhammad Rizwan and Israrullah.
On the first day, Falcons take on Rams while Panthers play Stallions.
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Eight regional teams are all set to vie for the Super8 T20 Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, with a spot in the coveted T20 Champions League on the line.
The tournament, which begins on Monday, is going to be noteworthy as much for the players that are featuring as it will be for those who aren’t. Several key players are taking part in other leagues across the world, while others will return from Bangladesh after representing Pakistan less than 24 hours before the first match kicks off.
Karachi Dolphins will be talisman Shahid Afridi, who will be taking part in the English county and will therefore not be available for the event.
A few other Karachi players — including Khurram Manzoor, Fawad Alam, Mir Hamza and leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed — are part of the Pakistan A squad currently playing three four-day matches against Sri Lanka.
Sarfraz Ahmed will be leading the team but will only arrive from Bangladesh on Friday night, so will not be taking to the field on Saturday.
While Dolphins coach Tauseef Ahmed said that the absence of the players, especially of Afridi, will be felt, he believes the team has enough arsenal to be a handful for any side. The Dolphins side is likely to feature the likes of Anwar Ali and Muhammad Sami in their pace attack, while Muhammad Waqar and Fazal Subhan will be looking to hold the batting together in the absence of the more famous names.
Ahmed revealed that Sarfraz will feature in Karachi’s first match against the Lahore Lions on May 12. “We did not choose any other wicketkeeper in place of Sarfaraz as his presence was confirmed for the first match,” said Ahmed.
Abbottabad Falcons, playing against Rawalpindi Rams on Monday, will also be missing several players such as skipper Younus Khan and bowling duo Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah due to their international commitments, with former Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed leading the line in Younus’ absence.
“The first match will be difficult for us as several key players would not be able to play but our players will give their best to get a positive result,” said Falcons president Zahid Saeed.
Rawalpindi Rams, on the other hand, will be missing three key players; Awais Zia and Yasir Arafat will be playing county cricket, while Umar Amin is with Pakistan A.
The Sohail Tanvir-led Rams will have the services of left-arm Test pacer Muhammad Amir who has recently performed well in the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II.
Meanwhile, defending champions Lahore Lions still look the strongest side on paper. Kamran Akmal will lead the Lions side that includes Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed and Wahab Riaz.
“We have a strong team and I am confident we will defend the title,” said Kamran.
Multan Tigers will miss three key players — Muhammad Irfan, Sohaib Maqsood and Rahat Ali — due to injuries but still boast the likes of Gulraiz Sadaf, Zulfiqar Babar, Naveed Yasin and Aamir Yamin.
Hosts Faisalabad Wolves will be led by Test skipper Misbahul Haq and includes internationals Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Talha. Faisalabad chief Hamid Mansoor is confident that home advantage and Misbah will help his side in the competition. “Misbah is in good touch and we will have home advantage to compliment our balanced team,” he said, firing a warning to the other teams.
Shoaib Malik will lead the Sialkot Stallions, who have Haris Sohail, Bilawal Bhatti and Mukhtar Ahmed in their ranks. However, Haris and Bilawal will miss the first match due to other commitments.
Peshawar Panthers, who won the last National T20 Championship, will be led by Rafatullah Mohmand and can also call upon the likes of Muhammad Rizwan and Israrullah.
On the first day, Falcons take on Rams while Panthers play Stallions.
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