KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi cruised to the final round of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Tuesday with an enviable partnership of 126 runs by Afghan power-hitting sensation Hazratullah Zazai and Jonathan Wells at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, becoming the only team to play a fourth final in Pakistan’s flagship cricket series.
Zalmi, which ended up third on the points table in the first phase, recorded its second consecutive win in the playoffs, dethroning defending Champions Karachi Kings on Monday, before defeating Islamabad United by eight wickets in the Eliminator-2 clash to progress to the final round against Multan Sultans on Thursday.
Peshawar Zalmi selected Arab News Pakistan as its international media partner in 2020 and extended this partnership to the 2021 edition, which was suspended halfway due to the spread of COVID-19 in March. The sixth edition of PSL, facilitated by the UAE Cricket Council, resumed on June 9 in Abu Dhabi.
Zalmi won the PSL champions title in 2017 and was the runner-up in the 2018 and 2019 editions. United has won the tournament twice.
Invited to bat first by Zalmi, who won the toss, United recorded a poor start after its in-form batsman, Usman Khawaja, lost his wicket to Shoaib Malik in a failed attempt to take a run, scoring only one run off two balls.
Muhammad Akhlaq was the second to face the field with the team’s total at just 15 runs, putting United under immense pressure. Colin Munro’s partnership of 55 runs with Brandon King provided some relief before he got out at 44 runs out of 29 balls.
United’s middle order, however, flopped miserably, with the next six batsmen adding just 39 runs to the team’s total.
At one point, United recorded 110 at the loss of eight wickets, but a blitzing partnership of 62 runs between Hasan Ali and Muhammad Wasim set a good target of 175 for Zalmi.
Ali scored 45 runs off 16 balls with three sixes and five boundaries, retaining the spot as top scorer of his side.
Zalmi’s Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif bagged two wickets each while Muhammad Irfan, Ammad Butt and Muhammad Imran sent a player to the pavilion from the opposing side.
Zalmi nailed the target in the 17 over at the loss of two wickets, with Zazai – who played a slow inning initially – staying put at the crease to take his side to the final stage of the PSL.
Zazai scored 66 of 44 balls and was declared player of the match, while Wells clocked 55 runs and remained not out.
Malik, who also played the winning stroke, scored 32 of 10 balls. United’s Muhammad Wasim and Hasan Ali took one wicket each.
Peshawar Zalmi to play its fourth PSL final in Abu Dhabi on Thursday
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Peshawar Zalmi to play its fourth PSL final in Abu Dhabi on Thursday
- Will face Multan Sultans in the last installment of the flagship Pakistan Super League series
- Peshawar won the PSL champions title in 2017 and was the runner-up in the 2018 and 2019 editions
Pakistan assembly speaker warns opposition against anti-state remarks in parliament
- Ayaz Sadiq says criticism of judiciary and armed forces will not be allowed on assembly floor
- He calls violence during protests unacceptable, vows neutrality as National Assembly speaker
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday that opposition lawmakers would not be allowed to speak against Pakistan, the judiciary or the armed forces on the floor of parliament, calling such remarks unacceptable.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the eastern city of Lahore, Sadiq said parliamentary debate must remain within constitutional and legal limits, while reiterating his commitment to act impartially as speaker.
“No one will be allowed to speak against Pakistan, the judiciary or the armed forces on the floor of the National Assembly,” Sadiq said. “Negative or controversial remarks about judges or the armed forces are unacceptable.”
His comments come amid heightened political tensions after opposition groups held protests in the past, criticizing state institutions and targeting government and military properties.
The speaker said peaceful protest was a democratic right but drew a sharp line at violence and vandalism.
“Protest is the right of every citizen in a democratic society, but it must remain peaceful and within the bounds of the constitution and the law,” he continued, adding that arson, damage to property and the use of sticks or weapons in the name of protest were “unacceptable” and posed a threat to the rule of law.
“No opposition lawmaker will be allowed to speak on the National Assembly floor if they speak against Pakistan,” Sadiq said.
The speaker also noted the country’s economic indicators were gradually improving, citing an increase in foreign exchange reserves, and said Pakistan had further strengthened relations with countries including the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
