Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim feels they haven’t ticked the right boxes with the ball in the last few matches. KK lost their Friday game against Islamabad United by six wickets despite putting 201 runs on the board at the Pindi Club, Rawalpindi.
Wasim won the toss and decided to bat first on a batting paradise. The left-handed bat also led from the front as he scored 92 runs from 54 balls with the help of 11 fours and two sixes to continue his good form.
However, Azam Khan made short work of the run-chase as he smashed 72 runs from 41 balls. Furthermore, Faheem Ashraf and Alex Hales scored 41 and 34 runs respectively to play a crucial hand for ISU.
Imad Wasim said after the loss, “I think 200 was a very score. Azam played really well and took the game away from us. Our bowling in the last 5-6 games hasn’t been great. Azam played really well and played all around the ground. You have to give credit to others sometimes. We just got to sit and talk. It has been 8 games and we haven’t executed our plans. I am upset but it is cricket and life moves on.”
Shadab Khan was delighted with his team’s performance and heaped praise on Azam Khan for playing a match-winning knock.
Khan said after the win, “We lost the toss but we wanted to bowl. Typical Pindi wicket. Very difficult to contain on this wicket. Our dressing room always stayed calm. Azam is dangerous against spinners. He mostly smashes me in nets. During the time-out, he told he will kill the game off. We wanted to play fearless. We will accept the failures. We might get all-out for 90 or 100. But we need to play smart cricket with a fearless approach.
Azam Khan was awarded the Player of the Match for his blistering knock in the run-chase.
He said: “I think it is all about practice. I try to keep calm in the practice games back in Karachi. I will rate the Quetta innings higher. Basically, I was trying to ask Faheem to take singles. I wanted to take on Tabraiz. I was confident about Asif. He took out some pressure from me.”
ISU will face Quetta Gladiators on Sunday at the same venue.
