Lahore Qalandars break the surface, but will they stay afloat?
It took seven games to get to their first win in PSL3
Brendon McCullum’s four off Sohail Tanvir just got the Lahore Qalandars their first victory this season. About time too, since they lost the last six matches in succession. Though the Qalandars have begun each PSL season with a loss, this one was especially hard.
However, the win comes to a team firmly at the bottom of the table. The team above the Qalandars; Peshawar Zalmi, have already won 3 matches, meaning that even a continuous winning streak from here on might not be enough to save them.
Lahore Qalanders Watching Point Table#MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/CdoiHMAvXc
— Bilal Mehmood (Zalmi ❤️) (@bilal3930) March 9, 2018
The major woes for the Qalandars have been in their batting department. The last six games have all seen spectacular collapses, reminding us of Pakistan’s national team from a not-so-long-ago era. This included losing 8 wickets for 44 runs against Islamabad, a match that Lahore looked really set to win, only to lose it in the first super over in PSL history.
The poor run has left tongues rolling against the Qalandars. Analysts, commentators and fans have all slammed the team for unprofessional attitude, with coach Aaqib Javed conceding that the team had remarkably under performed. Some have slammed the Qalandars for relying on unpredictable players like Umar Akmal for middle order strength. The sixth defeat even led to Bredon McCullum offering to quit captaincy. However, to give the team a title chance this season or the next would require a complete overhaul of strategy.
The good news is that a new star might be emerging, even if he belongs to the team coming in last. Shaheen Afridi, the 17 year old who first made headlines in the U-19 world cup grabbed a spectacular 5 for 4 in 3.4 overs to give Qalandars their first win. Last season, Lahore brought Fakhar Zaman to the national team (see: trophy winning ton against India). This year, Pakistan team might gain another star Afridi.
The win however did one thing that every fan or non-fan was waiting for; a triumphant smile on the face of you-know-who.
Happiest Man Today, Fawad Rana !#MSvLQ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 pic.twitter.com/G9mPapTRXg
— The PSL Guy (@thePSLt20guy) March 9, 2018
