Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has arrived in Beijing on a three-day visit to China. READ MORE: AB de Villiers named captain of PSL 2019 Team.
Posts tagged as AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli have played together for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL for past 9 years. Here is why the former South Africa skipper thinks Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world.
DUBAI (Agencies) – All-round performance from Iftikhar Ahmed helped Karachi Kings to beat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets in the 20th match of the fourth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL-4) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Karachi and Lahore are the two largest cities in Pakistan, boasting a population in excess of 25 million.These are gigantic numbers, but when the two meet in the PSL, big numbers are in short supply. The two played out an edgy low-scoring contest for the second time in ten days, but this time Karachi Kings prevailed, thanks to an all-round performance from Iftikhar Ahmed helping them to a five-wicket win.Karachi s need was greater, and they propel themselves back in contention for the playoffs.It was a subdued batting performance from Lahore, who never seemed to get the lift-off they needed to put up a more testing total.Fakhar Zaman was well contained at the top, while Haris Sohail could manage no more than a start. Even AB de Villiers couldn t be his destructive self, and even though the South African was at the crease for the better part of Lahore s innings, they would have been hoping for more than a somewhat plodding 32-ball 33.
Iftikhar was the pick of Karachi s bowlers, oddly bowling just two overs, but conceding just four runs and taking the wickets of Fakhar and Haris in the process. It meant they put up 133, left needing another big performance from their bowlers on a track that had begun to slow.The bowlers did give it a right go, with Sandeep Lamichhane continuing his dazzling form. He took 2 for 17 in his four, with David Weise impressively economical and Haris Rauf irrepressibly valiant.But not everyone was able to deliver in the way they needed to defend a low total.Yasir Shah was disappointing and expensive, and when Aizaz Cheema bowled a no-ball that went for four, Imad Wasim thumped the ensuing free hit for another boundary.That was it for the Lahore fightback, and impressive as it had been, the flawlessness necessary to defend 133 wasn t quite there.Iftikhar s first over was the stuff of dreams for Imad s side.He bowled wide to the left-hander, frustrating Fakhar, who skied his second ball straight to a fielder. Two balls later, he had de Villiers sweeping straight to Babar Azam, who dropped a simple catch.
Off the last ball, there was a run-out chance, de Villiers surviving by inches. Iftikhar s day had just begun, and Lahore would never get on the front foot again.
Fakhar opened the bowling in defense of a low total. There was little margin for error in the Powerplay, and the gamble did not work.Karachi carted him around for 14, and they were already off and running.He won t get the plaudits today because there was just so much happening, but just when Karachi seemed like they might lose their way, Liam Livingstone s calm head set them back on course.Coming in during a time when Karachi had scored just 10 runs in four overs, he began his innings by taking six singles in Lamichhane s third over. In the next two overs, he found a four and a six off Weise and Yasir to keep the asking rate in check.
That fifty-run partnership with Colin Ingram may not be the most explosive, but it was precisely what Karachi required in a moment when Lahore threatened to undo all their good work. Livingstone ensured that wouldn t happen, scoring 38 off 34 to become the tournament s leading run-scorer, and more importantly, keep his side in real contention.
It might have been conjectured that bowling with Yasir would give Lamichhane an invaluable learning experience, but on the evidence of their performances, much of the advice may be heading the other way. While Lamichhane has thrived after a rough start, Yasir s game looks like it has fallen away badly.He never looked in control of the spinning deliveries, and whenever he tried the googly, he invariably ended up dragging it short. The batsmen appeared to pick him out of the hand far better than they did the Nepalese teenager.The 11th over saw Livingstone mete out the toughest punishment, smashing him for two fours and a six on an over that cost 18. That brought the asking rate from 7.5 to almost a run a ball, with Yasir conceding 21 off 3.1 overs.The contrast of Lamichhane s success gives the more experienced Yasir plenty to ponder with regards to adapting his game for the shortest format.Karachi and Lahore now both have three wins in seven games, occupying fourth and fifth positions respectively.
DUBAI: Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman will continue to lead Lahore Qalandars in the remaining Pakistan Super League matches. Fakhar has been named as captain due to AB de Villiers unavailability for the complete season, a Qalandars official confirmed …
SHARJAH: It could not have been a better sight than Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed sealing the fate of a HBL PSL match, sending the last ball of the match over deep mid-wicket boundary to give Quetta Gladiators a three wicket win against Lahore.
Quetta, chasing 144 to win, needed three off the last ball from David Wiese and Sarfraz completed the task for Quetta’s fourth win in as many games to keep them on top of the six-team HBL PSL table.With that six Sarfraz finished with 52 not out off 36 balls with a six and four boundaries.Lahore Qalandars found the going tough against an accurate Quetta bowling, riding on a laborious 40-ball 45 not out which were, uncharacteristically, without a six and had only two boundaries to post a modest 143-7 in their 20 overs after sent into bat.
Quetta have now chased down targets successfully in all four matches, winning by six, seven, eight wickets in the previous matches.Quetta were in a spot of bother when they lost in-form Shane Watson off a third-ball duck and then the other two successful batsmen Rilee Rossouw (17) and Umar Akaml (nine departed soon to leave Quetta in a difficult situation at 3-53.
Ahsan Ali, who scored 29-ball 40 with two sixes and as many boundaries, fell to Sandeep Lamichanne and Dwayne Smith was run out for two, but the wily campaigner Sarfraz kept his nerves.Sarfraz and Mohammad Nawaz (18-ball 19 with a six) took Quetta to within nine runs of victory.Quetta needed seven off the last over which started with Wiese bowling Anwar Ali with a yorker.Sarfraz still knew a big hit could help Quetta cross the line and that he ultimately did, making Wiese — who hit a last ball six in Lahore’s win over Multan Sultans on Friday a villain from a hero.
Quetta kept their top position with the win. Peshawar Zalmi (tw0 wins and two losses in four matches) are second, Islamabad United are third (two wins and two losses but ineferior net run-rate), Lahore are fourth (three losses, two wins in five), Multan are fifth (two points from four) while Karachi Kings are sixth (two losses and one win from three matches).Sarfraz praised opposition’s bowling.”When you chase you need to keep wickets in hand, but today we lost wickets regularly because Lahore bowled well.
In the end it was my day and I hit the needed runs,” said Sarfraz.Lahore’s skipper Fakhar Zaman — leading the side after De Villiers hurt his back and couldn’t take the field — admitted his team was short on runs.”We couldn’t get a big total and that hurt us badly,” said Fakhar.Lahore’s batting was kept under tight check by Quetta.It was young Mudassar who was impressive with 3-21. He did not allow the great De Villiers to hit at his usual best.
Mudassar kept following the great master as and when he moved in the crease, allowing him a leg bey and two singles in the 18th and just seven in the final over.Left-arm spinner Nawaz (1-35) removed Fakhar (three) in the second over.But Fakhar’s partner, Sohail Akhtar looked threatening as he smashed three sixes and a boundary in his 21-ball 29 but Mudassar got him caught behind to check the flow of runs.Corey Anderson, playing his first game this year, hit a six in his 18-ball 19 before David Wiese (16-ball 20 with a six) helped De Villiers add 40 for the fifth wicket.
But Lahore did not manage to hit high and wide in final overs as just 28 in the final five overs.That was because Quetta unleashed tight bowling, with Sohail Tanvir also chipping in with 2-21 in his four overs.None of the Quetta bowlers went over seven per over, with leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed the most expensive, returning with figures of 0-31.Karachi Kings meet title holders Islamabad United later Saturday.Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars by three wickets in HBL PSLBrief Scores:Lahore Qalandars 143-7 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 45 not out; Ghulam Mudassar 3-21, Sohail Tanvir 2-21)Quetta Gladiators 148-7 in 20 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 52 not out; Haris Rauf 2-25)
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has joined Middlesex County Cricket Club and is all set for the county season in the upcoming T20 Blast cricket tournament.
Several foreign stars like AB de Villiers and Dwayne Bravo, who are a prominent part of the IPL, also play in PSL. by Scroll Staff.
DUBAI: It was the 12th over of Lahore Qalandars innings against Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League. Imad Wasim, the Kings captain, handed the ball to 19-year-old Umer Khan to bowl against the most destructive batsman in the world, AB de Villiers.
DUBAI (Dunya News) – Islamabad United kept their nerves after losing three early wickets in one over from Rahat Ali to register an impressive five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalanders in the opening match of the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super …
Faheem Ashraf hit a six on the second ball of the 20th over bowled by Lahore Qalanders captain Muhammad Hafeez to seal the match for the defending champions Islamabad United.
Islamabad United innings was rocked by Rahat Ali in the start when he claimed wickets of openers Rizwan Hussain and Luke Ronchi on successive deliveries. Philip Salt denied a hat-trick to Rahat but fell on the last ball of same over.
Rizwan Hussain and Luke Ronchi gave a flying start to Islamabad United added 45 runs for the opening partnership before getting out on two consecutive deliveries. They contributed 15 and 27 runs respectively.
Philip Salt scored just four runs.Delport and Hussain Talat steadied Islamabad United innings and added 55 runs for the stand of fourth wicket before Delport departed after making 24 runs to give Rahat Ali his fourth wicket of the match.
Hussain Talat followed soon after contributing 37 runs.Asif Ali was then joined by Faheem Ashraf when Islamabad United were 118-5 and needed 54 runs for victory in 32 deliveries.
The pair hit Lahore Qalanders bowlers to all corners of the ground to guided Islamabad United to victory.Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf added 59 runs in their unbroken partnership.
Asif Ali remained not our after making 36 runs in just 19 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. Faheem Ashraf also remained not out and contributed 23 runs in just 11 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and two sixes.
Rahat Ali was the most successful bowler for Lahore Qalanders and claimed four wickets by giving away 29 runs in his quota of four overs. CR Brathwaite chipped in with one wicket.
Earlier, Fakhar Zaman hit a blistering half century as Lahore Qalanders set 172 runs target for Islamabad United in the opening match of the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL-4) at the Dubai International cricket stadium on Thursday.Fakhar Zaman and Sohail Akhtar laid a solid foundation for Lahore Qalanders as the pair added 97 runs in 10.
4 overs before Sohail Akhtar gloved a rising delivery from Faheem Ashraf to the safe hands of Luke Ronchi.Sohail Akhtar made 37 runs.
Fakhar Zaman could not capitalize on a solid start and threw away his wicket on a wide delivery from Shadab Khan after scoring 65 runs.AB de Villiers, making his debut in the Pakistan Super League, stayed on the crease for just 17 deliveries befor he was dismissed by a good catch by Philip Salt on the boundary line on the bowling of Waqas.
De Villiers made 24 runs with the help of two boundaries and a huge six.Lahore Qalanders lost quick wickets in the last five overs in a bid to post a big total but they managed only 171 runs for the loss on eight wickets.
Faheem Ashraf bowled superbly for Islamabad United and took two wickets by giving away just 24 runs in his quota of four overs. Muhammad Sami, Waqas Maqsood, Shadab Khan and CS Delport claimed one wicket each.
Faheem Ashraf was named man of the match for his all-round performance in the match