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Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, who returned to the playing XI for Karachi Kings in Friday’s clash against Quetta Gladiators, credited a complete team performance for their 56-run win at the National Bank Stadium.
Playing his first match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, Hamza made an instant impact by dismissing Finn Allen in the very first over.
His early breakthrough set the tone for Karachi’s bowling attack, which restricted the Gladiators to just 119-9 while defending a target of 176.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mir Hamza expressed his delight over the victory and praised the team’s all-around effort.
“Whenever you win, there’s obviously happiness. We’ve won two out of our three matches so far, and what’s most encouraging is the manner of our wins—by big margins,” he said.
“Whether you look at our top order, middle order, or the bowling, everyone has contributed well. Our fielding has been excellent too.
“When every player makes small but meaningful contributions, it builds confidence going into the next matches. That’s a very positive sign for any team.”
Reflecting on the playing conditions and team strategy, Hamza said the pitch played differently compared to the previous two games, and the team had to adjust accordingly.
“Today’s pitch was different from the last two matches. Our main target while batting first was to somehow get to 170-180, and we managed to achieve that,” he added.
“The pitch was slow, and once the ball got older after the powerplay, back-of-length deliveries weren’t coming on to the bat nicely.
“That’s why our plan while batting was to get to 170-180, and we were successful. In bowling, too, we executed the same plan, knowing those kinds of deliveries would be harder to play. Overall, everything went well today.”
When asked about the low turnout of fans in Karachi and what Karachi Kings are doing to bring the crowd back, Mir Hamza responded with a smile:
“Right now, we’re trying to bring the crowd back by winning matches. We’ve won two out of three, and I think the way we’ve started, hopefully the crowd will show up in greater numbers in the upcoming games.”
He was also full of praise for new captain David Warner, highlighting his leadership qualities and the environment he has created in the dressing room.
“It’s been a really good experience playing under David Warner. The best thing about him is how he backs his players, maintains a great dressing room atmosphere, and trusts everyone,” he said.
“These things become especially important when a team loses. When we lost a match, he was still backing both batters and bowlers – and that kind of support is a huge positive for any team. Warner is not just a great captain, but also a great leader and team man.”
READ: ‘Too shy to seek advice’: Former Pakistan legend comments on Babar Azam’s struggles
