- Shamser Khalid
Shaheen Afridi's PSL Gesture Goes Viral
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is well underway, and the matches are heating up with each passing day. In a recent encounter, the Lahore Qalandars took on the Multan Sultans in an exciting game that featured brilliant batting, bowling, and sportsmanship.
A Show of Sportsmanship
The show of sportsmanship was caught during the fourth ball of the fifth over of the run chase when Haris Rauf was bowling.
As his delivery clocked at 141.7 kph hit Multan Sultans' captain, Mohammad Rizwan's elbow, he was compelled to drop his bat and rush to complete the run. After he safely made it to the non-striker's end, Shaheen Afridi, the Qalandars skipper, came forward and tried to console Rizwan, who was clearly in pain.
Although Rizwan attempted to assure the fast bowler that he was okay, Shaheen signaled toward the dugout and appealed for assistance. The PSL shared a video of the incident on Instagram, captioning it as "Shaheen consoles Rizwan after he was hit on the arm."
The video of the incident soon went viral on social media, with fans lauding Shaheen's act of sportsmanship.
Afridi and Rizwan Tournament Records
In the current PSL season, the 22-year-old pacer has been delivering an outstanding performance, which has made him one of the top wicket-takers of the tournament. With 10 dismissals under his belt, he currently holds the No. 3 position in the list of leading wicket-takers.
On the other hand, Rizwan has been unstoppable with his batting skills. He has been in top-notch form and has smashed 388 runs in seven matches at an exceptional average of 77.60 and a strike rate of 138.57. As a result, he sits comfortably at the top of the list of leading run-scorers in the ongoing tournament.
What Happened in the Lahore Qalandars VS Multan Sultans Match
After winning the toss, the Qalandars decided to bat first and posted a formidable total of 180/9 in their 20 overs. Sam Billings was the star of the innings, smashing a half-century off just 35 deliveries, which included six boundaries and two maximums. Abdullah Shafique also played a crucial knock of 48 runs, which helped the team post a competitive total.
In reply, the Sultans started well, but lost wickets at regular intervals, which slowed down their run chase. Kieron Pollard was the top-scorer for the team, scoring 39 runs, but it was not enough as they fell short by 21 runs. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for the Qalandars, taking three wickets for just 15 runs.
Qalandars' Status
The Qalandars' win has taken them to the top of the points table with six victories out of seven matches. The Sultans, on the other hand, is in second place with four victories out of seven matches. The Qalandars will next take on Peshawar Zalmi, while the Sultans will face Islamabad United in their upcoming matches.
The Pakistan Super League is currently in its eighth season, known as the 2023 Pakistan Super League. Before the Qalandars and Sultans play their next matches, the tournament's latest match will be between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings.
