Daily Times

SHARJAH: Karachi Kings outplayed Peshwar Zalmi by nine runs despite the heroics of Shahid Afridi who scored a quickfire 54 in the 13th fixture of the Pakistan Super League at Sharjah Stadium here Sunday night. Afridi smashed a 28-ball 54 with five sixes and three boundaries but he fell in the last over as Peshawar, needing 17 to win, lost. Chasing 175 to win, Peshawar faltered and were jolted by Sohail Khan (3-28) and Usman Khan (3-32). They looked to be in trouble after losing five wickets, and were desperately trying to steady their innings. Afridi and West Indies star Darren Sammy (26-ball 34 with three sixes and a boundary) almost turned the match with a 70-run stand for the sixth wicket. Afridi enthralled a packed 19,000 crowd with an innings which provided a rare bright moment for a competition hit by last week’s spot-fixing probe which led to the provisional suspension of Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif. Rampaging Afridi was caught on a ball by Usama Mir, the young legspinner who was fearless while bowling the last over of the match.

Both Sharjeel and Latif have since been charged for breaching the anti-corruption code of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by not reporting an approach and meeting an individual linked to international betting syndicate. Another former opener Nasir Jamshed was also provisionally suspended after being accused of being a “go-between”. Earlier, Karachi were helped to their total of 174-4 by Shoaib Malik’s rapid 27-ball 51 not out, studded with three sixes and four boundaries. Karachi were off to a steady start with their openers hitting periodic boundaries and had scored 45 in the first five overs of their match. Babar Azam seemed to be in form, quickly crossing the 30-run mark and was supported by his skipper Kumar Sangakkara on the crease. Peshawar won the toss and elected to field against Karachi.