Pakistan Super League (PSL) match 29 witnessed a thrilling contest between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators. At the National Stadium in Karachi, Quetta Gladiators won the toss and elected to field, but Peshawar Zalmi’s aggressive start, courtesy of Mohammad Haris, set the tone for the match. Haris was dismissed for 16 runs off just 6 deliveries, but Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis took over, steering their team towards a monumental total.
Peshawar Zalmi put up a blistering batting display, scoring 255 runs in 20 overs, losing just three wickets in the process. Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis played scintillating innings, with Babar Azam scoring 100 runs off 52 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes. He also became the 12th player to hit a century in T20s and the third in PSL. Kusal Mendis, on the other hand, scored 83 runs off 44 deliveries, including 10 fours and three sixes.
The duo’s partnership of 135 runs for the second wicket left the Quetta Gladiators’ bowlers stunned. Aaron Hardie finished the innings with a 26-run knock off 10 deliveries, including three sixes. The Quetta Gladiators’ bowlers were left hapless, with Javed Khan, Aariz Joseph, Aamer Jamal, and Saood Shakel struggling to contain the runs.
Aariz Joseph was the pick of the bowlers, conceding 59 runs off 4 overs and taking one wicket, while Aamer Jamal and Usman Qadir took one wicket each. The match was a testament to the batting prowess of Peshawar Zalmi, which will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
In other news, the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team will participate in the upcoming Women’s Cricket Series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe. The match officials for the series have been announced. Pakistani karateka Raja Rehman won a silver medal in the 60kg category at the Seniors World Karate Championship in Poland.
In cricket news, Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United has signed Poon Rathanaike from Sri Lanka, while Deepak Singh Arya has been released due to national duty. Lahore Qalanders’ Fakhar Zaman was named the Man of the Match. The Pakistan Women’s Sculls and Fitness Camp is currently underway in Lahore, with the third day of training seeing the athletes engaging in intense physical activity. Former England all-rounder Mohammad Amir has revealed that he left the Indian Premier League (IPL) to join the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Football Federation and the Argentine Football Association have started talks, with a friendly match between the two teams possible. New Zealand cricketer Colin Munro has praised the Pakistan Super League (PSL) event, calling it an unforgettable experience. The Quetta Gladiators were defeated by 6 wickets in the 26th match of PSL Season 11.
In other news, American media has reported that the Iranian negotiation team will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump has announced that his representatives will be in Islamabad on Tuesday for talks. Trump has vowed not to repeat the mistakes of former President Barack Obama.
Pakistani officials have warned the tribal leaders to take action against the Jirga system, with severe consequences for those who fail to comply. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recovered $145 million in Iranian rials from a suspect arrested in Karachi.
Iran has yet to decide on sending a delegation to Islamabad for the next round of talks with the US.
