PSL captains hope their teams will deliver in Season 10

By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Captains of all six franchises were on Thursday quizzed both about the country’s marquee league’s tenth edition set to begin on Friday in Rawalpindi and Pakistan’s recent pathetic performance in international cricket also came under discussion in Islamabad with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) senior official Salman Naseer also in attendance.
Mohammad Rizwan, the country’s ODI captain, once again talked candidly at the press conference on the powers-related questions which he already recently talked about after Pakistan were white-washed by New Zealand 3-0 in the ODI series at the latter’s backyard.
“What is in our hand and what is not. If you know that our faces were down when we were coming so media know it well what is happening and what is not,” Rizwan said.
“In Pakistan team everyone has his own authority, selection committee is also authority and as a skipper I also have authority but every individual is accountable according to his authority. I am accountable, head coach is also accountable and selectors are also accountable. The entire Pakistan knows it. There is no need to make it a headline. When selection committee comes it says this is its role, it forms the team and sends it. I am accountable as per authority I have,” Rizwan said.
“All know that in Pakistan cricket is madly followed. We did not live up to the expectations of the nation. There is no such thing of any wonder or depression because the way we get love from our nation so we face its anger too when we lose. If we fail to deliver nation has the right to criticize us,” Rizwan said.
“As far as PSL is concerned so it’s such a brand which is keenly followed and even in a single home you find supporters of different franchises. The entire Pakistan is waiting for the PSL. The win of any franchise in this event is actually the win of Pakistan. And as far as Pakistan’s struggle in international circuit is concerned so I am very hopeful that results on that front will start coming after this tournament,” Rizwan said.
Rizwan will lead former champions Multan Sultans in the PSL 10.
When asked that following poor performance as skipper in the recently-held ODIs against New Zealand pressure would be on him in the PSL 10 Rizwan said pressure is always there.
“Pressure is always there but it varies as far as both international and domestic circuit is concerned. For me the past is past and if I go with the past in mind then it will end the world for me. But what we can take from the past experience is not to repeat those mistakes,” Rizwan said.
Meanwhile Peshawar Zalmi’s skipper Babar Azam said his team is balanced.
”On the paper all teams are balanced and it depends on a given day how a team plays. Every team has made its best combination and every team tries to win. We have also formed our best combination and effort will be made to go with the sort of the combination which will be the demand of the conditions and I hope we will deliver,” Babar said.
“This time we have tried to fill in the weak areas and we have all bases covered so that we could not face any issues during the event. InshaAllah this time too we will play final,” Babar said.
He also hoped that Saim Ayub would show his intent.
“It’s good that Saim is back after injury. He passed fitness test and is training. I hope he will bat with the same intent with which he used to play and win matches for Zalmi,” Babar said.
Lahore Qalandars skipper Shaheen Afridi said that their main aim in the PSL is to give product to the Pakistan team.
“Win and loss are part of the game. When you win you don’t realise where you have made mistakes. When an event ends then we analyse the entire process and then plan for the next edition. This time our combination is good and emerging players are also exciting product,” he said.
“As far as my performance is concerned so bad patches come in your career and machine also sometimes gets out of order. When you win you don’t know where you make mistakes. We should not remain in the past and future is unknown and for me present is very important. I am player of Qalandars and will enjoy every moment this season,” Shaheen said.
Karachi Kings vice-captain Hasan Ali said they have changed the combination little bit.
“Kings have changed their combination little bit this season. We have tried to bring in a fire-power so that we could utilize the circle because in Pakistan’s conditions the team which will play well in the powerplay have better chances of winning the match,” Hasan said.
“Last year it was felt that we have no such depth in our fast bowling and we tried to strengthen this zone as well by picking some offshore bowlers and local boy Abbas Afridi. Our dugout is good and we will try to entertain the fans and play better cricket,” Hasan said.
Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan said that despite having lifted trophy last year they have tried to plug their weaker links.
“Although we won trophy last year but we have tried to fill in in those areas where we lacked. We tried to bring in some pace and for that we have kept some offshore resources. Our all three emerging players are Pakistan’s future, although some of them may not get enough opportunity,” he said.
Quetta Gladiators skipper Saud Shakeel said they would try to deliver their best following a few bad seasons.
“The thing is that sometimes you are unable to click as you miss some players due to their unavailability or injuries. This year we will try to deliver in those areas where we went a bit weak last season. We will try to play good cricket and entertain the fans,” he said.