Babar Azam: “The way we started, it was really good. We were going as per plan, but after one wicket, we lost a few back-to-backs. That broke down the momentum a little. We tried to regain that momentum, but it was too late. We never got a partnership. I think it was a 180-200 kind of a wicket, but we didn’t play well enough. Yes, the way we are starting off well, we are not being able to finish as strong. So I feel we need to look at that. Sometimes when you lose back-to-back wickets, it brings pressure and I always look to take it deep and play as long as I can. The way I started today, I couldn’t finish off. Might have been a different scenario if I had a batter with me at the end. The bowling today was not up to the mark. The fielding as well, maybe if we had taken our chances in the powerplay, things would have been different.”
Shadab Khan: [On if he had doubts they would win after Zalmi’s Powerplay performance] No, definitely not. T20 cricket can change at any time. So even after the first six overs, we knew we could come back. We had to hit the hard lengths. After bowling the first few balls, I knew the slower balls would work. [On how he will fit Alex Hales into the team] We don’t know how to! But that’s a good thing because last year we didn’t have a lot of bench strength, but this year we do. Also, I want to talk about Asif Ali. He has been a match-winner for us at No. 6. I don’t think we have another match-winner like that in our team.
Hasan Ali, player of the match: I didn’t play the first two games, but I keep dreaming. I was working hard in the nets. I got an opportunity and the first over didn’t go well. I would like to thank the staff. I would also like to thank one more person. She has always pushed me hard. My wife, I would like to thank her today. I always believed that this ball belonged to me. The ball was swinging a little and I knew I could get the better of this lineup. [On his celebrations]: When the junior guys found out that I was playing, they said they want to celebrate with me so it was for them.
Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Highlights today, Thursday 23-2-2023. 12th Match (N), National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan Super League 2023.
Toss: United chose to field.
Islamabad United team: Colin Munro, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (capt), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Mubasir Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees.
Peshawar Zalmi team: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris (wk), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Dasun Shanaka, James Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal, Sufyan Muqeem.
Head to Head In T20’s: 18
Islamabad United Won: 9
Peshawar Zalmi Won: 9
Form guide
(last five completed T20, most recent first)
Islamabad United LWLWL
Peshawar Zalmi WLWLT
Match Timings: 2:00 PM GMT | 7:00 PM Local
Umpires – Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth
TV Umpire – Alex Wharf
Match Referee – Ali Naqvi
Reserve Umpire – Tariq Rasheed
Match number – PSL Season 8 – Match No. 12
