By Haris Ahmad
PESHAWAR: Marnus Labuschagne’s Hyderabad Kingsmen are set to face Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi in the final of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 on Sunday night at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore as the 44-match season of the league will mark its completion.
Fans are requested to reach the venue by 6pm PKT. The match will be preceded by the closing ceremony, which is scheduled to start at 6.30pm PKT.
For the first time in the history of the HBL PSL, a separate reward has been set for the franchises with the winning franchise getting USD 500,000, runners up will get USD 300,000, while the franchise with the best player development efforts will bag USD 200,000. The tournament winning prize for players will comprise of USD 500,000.
Hyderabad Kingsmen will be looking to conclude their fairytale season with the HBL PSL title, while Peshawar Zalmi are eyeing their second title after 2017. Zalmi were the runners-up for 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons.
On the back of Babar Azam’s record 588-run tally, Kusal Mendis’ 541 runs and Sufyan Moqim’s 21 wickets, Peshawar Zalmi won eight of their 10 matches in the league stage including a seven-match winning streak. They outclassed Islamabad United by 70 runs in the Qualifier on 28 April to secure the ticket for the final.
Express fast bowler Nahid Rana has also rejoined the Peshawar Zalmi squad and will be available for selection. He picked up seven wickets in four league matches for Zalmi.
Hyderabad Kingsmen began their campaign with three outright losses by 69 runs against Qalandars, by 40 runs versus Gladiators and by six wickets against Sultans. Their fourth consecutive loss came against Peshawar Zalmi as the two teams played out a last-ball thriller. Zalmi chased the 146-run target with four wickets in hand.
Kingsmen then won four matches on the trot before falling flat against Islamabad United. They thumped Rawalpindiz by 108 runs in their last league game to oust defending champions Lahore Qalandars on net run rate. Kingsmen knocked out Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1 and came from behind to stun Islamabad United by two runs in the Eliminator 2.
Pre-final captains’ press conference
Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi captain
“We have played really good cricket in the tournament. Our focus has been on assessing the conditions first and then executing the plans. The performance of our team this season has been a combined effort of the local and overseas players. We hope to win the trophy by giving our best. It will also be great to play in front of a jam-packed stadium tomorrow.”
Marnus Labuschagne, Hyderabad Kingsmen captain
“Leading Hyderabad Kingsmen has been really exciting and I’ve enjoyed every moment. There have been certainly ups and downs but I think that’s what makes it so good. Tomorrow is just another game and we will make sure that we stick to our processes.”
Edited By Sumayyah Ahmad
Editor/Reporter
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