Plucky Peshawar refuse to follow the script yet again
The tournament’s stand out bowler, Imran Khan Junior, perfectly epitomises Peshawar’s rise to prominence
Peshawar have defeated their more prestigious opponents so often that they can no longer be called the underdogs. PHOTO: APP
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice but unfancied Peshawar have proven that wrong emphatically by successfully defending their National T20 crown.
Last year, a star-studded Lahore side had realised that Peshawar cannot be taken lightly, as they defeated a team filled with several international players by seven wickets in Karachi. This time around, under the lights on a windy Rawalpindi night, it was Karachi — boasting national T20 captain Shahid Afridi and vice-captain Sarfraz Ahmed along with several other household names — who were at the wrong end of a seven-wicket thumping.
But despite several standout individual performances, most of the Peshawar side has somehow managed to go under the radar, with only Imran Khan and Mohammad Rizwan managing to make a place for themselves in Tests and limited-over formats respectively.
The tournament’s stand out bowler, Imran Khan Junior, perfectly epitomises Peshawar’s rise to prominence. The unknown entity from Swat was the top wicket-taker in last year’s National T20 but he was largely ignored by selectors and fans alike; his performances written off as a fluke.
But he proved the naysayers wrong in emphatic fashion, finishing with 16 wickets in seven matches while also proving particularly hard to get away in the death overs.
He will now be travelling with the squad to Zimbabwe and is in line to make his debut in Harare — no one will be writing him or Peshawar out again anytime soon.
Karachi choke once more
Karachi Blues, who reached the final after having to go through the qualifying round, had the advantage of better match practice but they were decidedly overworked and fatigued after playing 11 matches in 15 days.
Led by Sarfraz, the Karachi side had the likes of Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Khalid Latif, Shahzeb Ahmed and Afridi in their ranks. They were understandably odds-on favourites to claim their first title after having lost three finals previously, despite losing to Peshawar in the group stages.
Peshawar, however, proved that a good gameplan and a tight dressing room can go a long way in cricket. They were also helped along the way by some good fortune as the normally safe Karachi fielders spilled a few chances.
Cricket of the highest quality
The 2015 format proved to be a success as the quality of cricket was impressive right from the qualifying round through to the final. Superb fielding displays, tight bowling, big scores and some incredibly nail-biting finishes — it was all on display as the country’s top sides showcased their class.
The selectors and T20 skipper Afridi will both be rubbing their hands with glee at the number of players that proved their mettle ahead of the World T20 next year in India.
While several players managed to catch the eye of the selectors, it will be particularly hard for them to ignore some players from Peshawar now — who seem to go from strength to strength with each passing year.
The success stories of Imran Khan Junior and fellow international new boy Aamer Yamin have once again proved that talent is not hard to come by in the country. Bigger and tougher challenges await these young men but for now they can hold their head high with pride. Well played young men.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2015.
Last year, a star-studded Lahore side had realised that Peshawar cannot be taken lightly, as they defeated a team filled with several international players by seven wickets in Karachi. This time around, under the lights on a windy Rawalpindi night, it was Karachi — boasting national T20 captain Shahid Afridi and vice-captain Sarfraz Ahmed along with several other household names — who were at the wrong end of a seven-wicket thumping.
But despite several standout individual performances, most of the Peshawar side has somehow managed to go under the radar, with only Imran Khan and Mohammad Rizwan managing to make a place for themselves in Tests and limited-over formats respectively.
The tournament’s stand out bowler, Imran Khan Junior, perfectly epitomises Peshawar’s rise to prominence. The unknown entity from Swat was the top wicket-taker in last year’s National T20 but he was largely ignored by selectors and fans alike; his performances written off as a fluke.
But he proved the naysayers wrong in emphatic fashion, finishing with 16 wickets in seven matches while also proving particularly hard to get away in the death overs.
He will now be travelling with the squad to Zimbabwe and is in line to make his debut in Harare — no one will be writing him or Peshawar out again anytime soon.
Karachi choke once more
Karachi Blues, who reached the final after having to go through the qualifying round, had the advantage of better match practice but they were decidedly overworked and fatigued after playing 11 matches in 15 days.
Led by Sarfraz, the Karachi side had the likes of Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Khalid Latif, Shahzeb Ahmed and Afridi in their ranks. They were understandably odds-on favourites to claim their first title after having lost three finals previously, despite losing to Peshawar in the group stages.
Peshawar, however, proved that a good gameplan and a tight dressing room can go a long way in cricket. They were also helped along the way by some good fortune as the normally safe Karachi fielders spilled a few chances.
Cricket of the highest quality
The 2015 format proved to be a success as the quality of cricket was impressive right from the qualifying round through to the final. Superb fielding displays, tight bowling, big scores and some incredibly nail-biting finishes — it was all on display as the country’s top sides showcased their class.
The selectors and T20 skipper Afridi will both be rubbing their hands with glee at the number of players that proved their mettle ahead of the World T20 next year in India.
While several players managed to catch the eye of the selectors, it will be particularly hard for them to ignore some players from Peshawar now — who seem to go from strength to strength with each passing year.
The success stories of Imran Khan Junior and fellow international new boy Aamer Yamin have once again proved that talent is not hard to come by in the country. Bigger and tougher challenges await these young men but for now they can hold their head high with pride. Well played young men.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2015.