KARACHI: Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim expressed optimism to steer his team to the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League season 8 despite an undesired start in the tournament.

“We still have seven matches in our hand before the playoffs,” he said in a post-match media talk after Karachi Kings lost their third consecutive match of the PSL 8 on Saturday.

“Our focus now is to win our upcoming matches and make a comeback. Good teams make comebacks in tough times. We will try our best to qualify for playoffs.”

He revealed Karachi Kings’ desperate search for their first win in the tournament and an optimal team combination, saying once they get on the winning ways, their chances to qualify will automatically improve.

“We have matchwinners in the team, we just have to figure out a combination,” he said.

Earlier, Martin Guptill scripted a phenomenal comeback for the Quetta Gladiators as he made the first century of the PSL 8 to help Quetta Gladiators edge Karachi Kings by six runs.

“We leaked too many runs in the last overs,” said Imad while crediting Guptill for taking the game away from the Karachi Kings.

“We played poor cricket,” he accepted. “We made mistakes which cost us in all three matches. We played well in phases but couldn’t finish it off well,” he said.

When asked whether he was under pressure after consecutive defeats, Karachi Kings’ captain replied in negation and assured that he would not give up till the very last game.

Kings will next face arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in a blockbuster clash on Sunday at National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

READ: Sciver’s fifty fires England to sink India despite Renuka’s five-for