Former Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis stated that Shaheen Shah Afridi should look at Quetta Gladiators’ Mohammad Amir’s spell against Islamabad United in the first eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi, on Friday.
Amir gave the Gladiators a wonderful start by conceding just two runs in the first over of the PSL 9 Eliminator 2. The 31-year-old bowled at an excellent length which made it difficult for United openers, Alex Hales and Martin Guptill, to score a boundary.
In the commentary box, Ramiz Raja praised Amir’s over, saying he forced the batters to be double-minded due to his excellent length throughout the over.
“This really was well bowled, look at the length. He spotted that length and just carried on hammering the ball there, forcing the batsman to be in two minds,” said Ramiz Raja while watching the replay of Amir’s first over against Islamabad.
Waqar Younis, who was also sitting in the commentary box, added that Shaheen Shah Afridi needs to watch Amir’s spell because that is what he needs to do when the ball isn’t swinging.
“I hope Shaheen Afridi is watching that because I think he needs to do that more often. Because early on if it [the ball] isn’t swinging, just hit this length,” Waqar Younis added.
WATCH
While this story was filed, Quetta were chasing the 175-run target set by Islamabad. Rilee Rossouw’s men were 15-3 in three overs with Khawaja Nafay and Omair bin Yousuf on the crease.
Batting first, despite a slow start, Islamabad picked up rhythm and started blasting boundaries.
Martin Guptill top-scored for the two-time PSL winners with 56 off 47 deliveries courtesy of six boundaries. He was followed by Salman Ali Agha who contributed 31 runs on 21 balls.
United looked on a course to a massive total but Quetta’s remarkable comeback late in the game halted their charge as they were ultimately restricted to 174-9 in the allocated overs.
Amir and Akeal Hosein took two wickets each while Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Abrar Ahmed and Saud Shakeel bagged one.