PSL 2022: Hopefully Shadab Khan will return for playoff stages – Asif Ali

Islamabad United stand-in captain Asif Ali is hopeful that the team’s full-time skipper Shadab Khan will return to the team for the playoff stages.

Khan has missed the last couple of matches due to injury and the team has been missing his services as he was in fine form.

Khan had scored 232 runs in six innings at an average of 38.67 and a blistering strike rate of 165.71. Furthermore, the leg-spinner is currently the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 scalps in seven matches. He had bowled with an impressive average of 8.53 and conceded his runs at an economy rate of 6.04.

Thus, he was doing a fine job for his team and he was leading from the front before getting injured. Ali also revealed that a couple of foreign players will also join the team before the playoff stage.

Meanwhile, Islamabad United suffered a huge loss of six wickets against defending champions Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday. ISU could only manage 105-7 after Asif Ali won the toss and decided to bat first. He admitted that it was a difficult pitch to bat as it was assisting the spinners.

Asif Ali said in the post-match presentation, “Was a difficult pitch against spin. Just wasn’t coming onto the bat, was keeping low and skidding. A couple of foreign players have joined the squad ahead of the playoffs. Hopefully, Shadab will be back too”.

On the other hand, Multan Sultans continued their domination in the tournament as this was their ninth win in the league stage. Multan Sultans became the first team in PSL history to win nine matches in the league stage. Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan continued his rich form as he scored an unbeaten knock of 51 runs off 42 balls.

Rizwan said after the game, “Have to go match by match. Have continued the process from the previous year”.

However, despite the loss, Islamabad United was able to qualify for the playoff stages. ISU will play their Eliminator contest on Thursday at the same venue in Lahore.