Babar Azam Blames Dropped Catches for Qalandars’ High Score

RAWALPINDI: Peshawar Zalmi’s captain, Babar Azam, attributed their defeat against Lahore Qalandars in their crucial Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 match to poor fielding. The match took place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

In a game shortened to 13 overs per side, Zalmi’s skipper, Babar, opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

The Qalandars, two-time champions, posted a significant 149/8, largely due to a half-century from Fakhar Zaman, their seasoned opener.

Zaman led the Qalandars’ scoring with 60 runs off 36 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and three sixes.

In response, Zalmi’s batting lineup could only manage 123/8 while pursuing a challenging 150-run target, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.

Daniel Sams, batting down the order, was the highest scorer with 26 not out, followed by Ahmed Daniyal (24), Abdul Samad (17), and Babar Azam (16), as the remaining batters failed to reach double digits.

This loss marked a historic low for Peshawar Zalmi, as they missed the playoffs for the first time in the league’s history.

Babar spoke to the media post-match, highlighting that dropped catches were a major factor in the defeat.

He stated that while they anticipated a high-scoring match, their poor fielding allowed Qalandars to exceed their target of restricting them to around 130 runs.

Babar stated, “We anticipated a high-scoring match. Our bowling and execution were lacking in this game.

“The dropped catches significantly impacted the game. When catches are dropped, the opposition gains an advantage. We aimed to restrict them to 130, but they reached 149. I am flexible with my batting position and adjust according to the team’s requirements,” he added.

Babar Azam emphasized that Zalmi’s inability to form partnerships during the initial six overs prevented them from executing their strategy. He also identified Ali Raza and Maaz Sadaqat as promising young talents.

“We struggled to build partnerships in the powerplay overs and couldn’t execute our plans effectively. Ali Raza and Maaz Sadaqat are promising players who have experience in Under-19 and First-Class cricket. I hope they perform well for Pakistan,” he concluded.