Islamabad United 158-7 (20 ov)
Lahore Qalandars 160-4 (18.2 ov)
Lahore won by 6 wickets
DUBAI // Dean Jones said his Islamabad United side had “been through hell” after their six-match winning streak in the HBL Pakistan Super League was ended by Lahore Qalandars.
The defending champions had been in crisis since two of their Pakistan internationals, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, were suspended and sent home on Friday, pending a corruption probe.
To make matters worse, the Pakistan Cricket Board named a third Islamabad player, fast bowler Mohammed Irfan, as having been questioned as part of the inquiry.
Although the left-arm quick escaped suspension, he was dropped for the match against Lahore. In his absence, the United bowling attack looked blunt, as Qalandars claimed an easy six-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium.
“The changes were unfortunate, but we will find a way,” said Jones, the Islamabad coach. “We will work through it. Emotionally and physically, the team has been through hell, to be honest. It is not the greatest preparation coming in to a match.
“Coming here, the boys wanted to get out and have some fun. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked that way.”
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Not for the first time, Misbah-ul-Haq shone in the face of corruption-related adversity. The 42-year-old captain did a fine job of repairing the damage inflicted on Pakistan cricket by the convictions of Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir for spot fixing in 2010.
And here he was with his bat, immediately trying to fix Islamabad, too. Misbah struck 61 from a mere 36 balls against the Qalandars, flying in the face of the troubles besetting his side.
Jones said Misbah’s leadership had been good humoured despite the clouds engulfing their side.
“He is always calm, cool and collected, and he doesn’t give a lot of emotion away,” Jones said. “Not many people see the humorous side of him, but we have seen a bit of that over the past 24 hours.
“From our owners, to Wasim [Akram, the team mentor] to our senior players, it has been a bit of a tough time.
“But now we will get together and just move on. And well done to the PCB. I think they have handled everything over the past 24 hours very well.
“We are here to keep this great game clean, and we will do everything we can to help out the ICC and PCB in everything they do.”
Grant Elliott, the New Zealand all-rounder, took four wickets as Islamabad were restricted to 158 for seven from their 20 overs.
The Qalandars batsmen made easy work of achieving victory, with Jason Roy batting through the innings for an unbeaten half century.
“We have so many explosive batsmen in our top four,and it was good to have someone bat through like Jason did,” Elliott said.
“We have a lot of hitters in the team, who are used to making cameos. It was disappointing in our opening game when our middle order, myself included, should have got us over the line.”
Quetta Gladiators prove too strong for Karachi Kings
Rilee Rossouw and Sarfraz Ahmed each made half centuries for Quetta Gladiators, as Karachi Kings’ troubles were compounded by defeat on Saturday night.
The Gladiators claimed a seven-wicket win to continue their perfect start to the HBL Pakistan Super League.
The loss came at the end of a day in which the Karachi Kings, who are still winless in the competition, had been dragged into the corruption saga engulfing the league.
On the morning of the match, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, named Zulfiqar Babar, of Quetta, and Shahzaib Hasan, of Karachi, as being investigated.
Imad Wasim, the Kings spinner, was also dragged into the debate as he was named by a non-official news source, but was quick to defend himself on social media.
“The news against me is totally false,” Imad wrote on Twitter. “I always played and will play with dignity and pride. I love my country and the respective teams I play for.”
Although both made the starting line up for Karachi, neither had a particular effect on the game. Shahzaib made a brisk 15 before falling to Tymal Mills.
Imad, for his part, sent down three wicketless overs, as a century stand between Rossouw and Sarfraz settled the encounter in Quetta’s favour.
pradley@thenational.ae
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