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'Missed Rashid Khan' - Shaheen Afridi Blames Gujarat's Spinner After PSL Loss

image-lsr9n245Shadab Khan celebrating his half-century in PSL 2024 opener (AP)

Shaheen Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars slumped to an eight-wicket larruping at the hands of Islamabad United to launch their title-defence campaign in PSL 2024 on a dreadful note. Defending 196 at Lahore, Afridi and co. failed to stop Shadab Khan and Agha Salman’s sparkling run-chase juggernaut as the two Islamabad United batters overhauled their task with eight balls to spare.

After the match, the Lahore Qalandars skipper praised his United counterpart as well as Salman for unleashing match-defining half-centuries in the high-scoring thriller. Shaheen also rued the fielding lapses his team committed, which subsequently resulted in their big defeat.


Shaheen praises Shadab Khan, rues fielding lapses

Shaheen Afridi hailed Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan and number four batsman Agha Salman for hitting blistering half-centuries to overhaul Lahore Qalandars’ 195-run total with relative ease.

"I think we can give credit to Shadab and Salman for the way they batted. Not an easy task for the fast bowlers to bowl in the second innings because of the dew factor. The ball was coming nicely onto the bat and they played good cricket," Shaheen said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

The Lahore Qalandars skipper also rued some of the fielding lapses his team committed, which included two drop chances that ultimately proved costly for them in the context of the high-scoring thriller at Lahore. 

“In cricket, they say 'if you take catches, you win matches,' but unfortunately, we dropped two catches," he added.

Batting first, Lahore Qalandars tallied a monumental 195-5 from their 20 overs, with overseas number three Rassie van der Dussen (71*) top-scoring in the innings. Opener Sahibzada Farhan also clubbed a rapid 57 at the top of the order.

Later in the game, captain Shaheen Afridi failed to make any impact with the new-ball before Islamabad United middle-order batters Shadab Khan and Agha Salman took their side past the finishing line.

Lahore Qalandars will now face Quetta Gladiators in their subsequent PSL 2024 clash on February 19.