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Islamabad United has become the third team to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Hyderabad Kings in a thrilling match. The team has secured 11 points, cementing its position in the top four. Lahore Qalanders, Karachi Kings, and Hyderabad Kings have also qualified for the playoffs. The current table standings see Lahore Qalanders at the fourth position, followed by Hyderabad Kings at the fifth position, and Karachi Kings at the sixth position.
Speaking to the media, Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach Saeed Ajmal said that they cannot play as a unit to win games. Islamabad United’s victory over Hyderabad Kings has not only secured their position in the top four but has also given the team a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
Hyderabad Kings’ head coach Jason Gillespie said that they had expected to win but failed to play according to the conditions. The current table standings are quite interesting, with Lahore Qalanders, Hyderabad Kings, and Karachi Kings all having 8 points. These three teams are strong contenders for the last spot in the playoffs.
In the upcoming matches, the focus will shift from winning to improving the net run rate. Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi’s all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed said that people can take a cue from their grandfather’s advice. Hyderabad Kings have an advantage over Lahore Qalanders and Karachi Kings as their last match is against the two teams.
Islamabad United’s victory over Hyderabad Kings has also given Quetta Gladiators a glimmer of hope to qualify for the top four. The team currently has 6 points and its last match is against Karachi Kings. If Quetta Gladiators manage to win against Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalanders, and Rawalpindi’s team Hyderabad Kings, the four teams will have 8 points each, and the decision will be based on the net run rate.
In other news, Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe has set a new world record in the 60-meter dash, clocking 6.59 seconds. In the ongoing Asian Beach Games in China, Pakistani sprinters Faiza Rehman and Samiullah have reached the finals of the 60-meter dash.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Pakistan after a visit to Oman. The visit comes as British King Charles III’s tour of the US has been affected by the recent shooting incident in Washington.
A human trafficker arrested in Cameroon has confessed to smuggling 16 Pakistanis who were among the migrants who died in a boat accident in Libya last month. The United Nations has warned of the risk of humanitarian catastrophe due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thoughts are gaining momentum in India. Israel has appointed its first ambassador to Somalia’s self-declared state of Somaliland after recognizing it as a sovereign state last month.
In other sports news, Islamabad United’s young batter Mohsin Riaz scored 42 runs, while Samir Manhas scored 27 runs and remained not out. Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi has qualified for the playoffs with 17 points, while Multan Sultans have also qualified with 12 points.
In the Asian Beach Games, Pakistani sprinters Faiza Rehman and Samiullah have reached the finals of the 60-meter dash.
