'If Fakhar Can...' - Shaheen Afridi Optimistic About Lahore Qalandars' Miraculous Turnaround
Fakhar Zaman (R) had a poor run of form in PSL 2024 so far [x.com]
In a thrilling encounter at Gaddafi Stadium this Sunday, Lahore, Peshawar Zalmi clinched victory against Lahore Qalandars by 8 runs in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024. The match witnessed an outstanding performance from Zalmi's Saim Ayub, whose blistering knock of 88 runs off just 55 balls propelled his team to set a formidable total of 211 runs. Ayub's exceptional display earned him the prestigious "Player of the Match" award.
Lahore Qalandars, the two-time champions and defending champions, faced their fifth consecutive defeat despite a remarkable century from Rassie van der Dussen. However, concerns lingered over the poor form of their star batter, Fakhar Zaman, who struggled once again in the tournament. With only 70 runs under his belt in the tournament so far, Zaman's highest score of 41 came against Multan Sultans.
Expressing optimism about Zaman's resurgence, Qalandars' captain Shaheen Shah Afridi remarked,
“If Fakhar can get runs at the top, then the batters to follow can go a bit more aggressive, that's one thing we are hoping for.”
On the other hand, Zalmi's captain, Babar Azam, played a key role in motivating Saim Ayub after his initial struggles in the tournament. Babar said,
“Believe in yourself, see the ball and play it, don't overthink - you are the best so believe in yourself.”
Azam's advice seemed to have worked wonders for Ayub, whose stellar performance guided Zalmi to their second win in four games, elevating them to fourth place on the points table.
Despite van der Dussen's heroics, Lahore Qalandars fell short of the 212-run target, highlighting the importance of consistent performances from their entire lineup, particularly from key players like Fakhar Zaman. Lahore's struggles are reflected in their position at the bottom of the points table.