Imad sets eyes on playoffs with shift in Kings’ momentum

ISLAMABAD: Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim hoped to continue the momentum achieved after the sensational win in the last game and earn a spot in the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League season 8. 

Talking to the media on Tuesday ahead of the Kings’ next PSL encounter against Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi tomorrow, skipper Imad claimed that his side was playing a good brand of cricket overall and it was unfortunate that the team lost a few close-margin games.

“We are still in the competition,” he said, believing that the tournament would take a sharp turn if the Kings win their remaining four matches.

Commenting on his side’s strategy for the upcoming games in the event, he said, “We will try to cover those margins of two or three runs with our fielding.”

With the action now being shifted to Rawalpindi and Lahore after the conclusion of the Karachi-Multan leg of the PSL 8 where the Kings enjoyed overwhelming support from the home crowd, the skipper urged the people of the twin cities to show in numbers to support him and the team.

“This is my home ground,” he said about the Rawalpindi Stadium, adding, “conditions in the city are favourable for the batters and we always expect high-scoring games at this ground.”

Furthermore, the all-rounder lauded the youngster Tayyab Tahir for his match-defining half-century during the Kings’ 66-run victory over Multan Sultans on Sunday, saying it was unfortunate the side could not fit him in the earlier matches.

“I was always aware of his talent and knew that he was a top performer in domestic cricket.” he maintained.

“In fact, I used to tell him that you are just around the corner and whenever you get a chance just play the way you do in domestic.”

He also praised the emerging all-rounder Qasim Akram, calling him the future of Pakistan cricket.

“I am confident that Qasim will serve Pakistan in future,” he said.

“We could not play him just because we needed a hard-hitting option in the depth, so we thought Irfan Khan Niazi was more suitable for the role,” he added.

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