DUBAI: Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder Shahid Afridi is confident that his team will not repeat the mistakes which cost them the match against Quetta Gladiators in the first Pakistan Super League playoff.
"We are well-prepared to face Karachi Kings tomorrow. They're a very good team, especially considering how they struggled at the start of this PSL but picked up momentum. The key would be to not make the mistakes we made against Quetta," Afridi said in an exclusive interview with Geo.TV.
Last year also, Peshawar Zalmi topped the table but were defeated by Gladiators in the playoffs, after which they faced Islamabad United in the knockout game. Asked about the nearly deja vu situation, Afridi laughed and expressed the hope that his would perform better this time.
"This time we're facing Karachi Kings in the knockout instead of Islamabad United. Hopefully we will do better and will go through to the final," the all-rounder said.
Singling out Muhammad Nawaz's performance in the first playoff, Afridi said the Gladiators' spinner snatched the victory from Zalmi in the last three balls of the match.
"Three yorkers from a spinner in the last three deliveries of a match is no small thing. Nawaz was outstanding in that last over," Afridi remarked.
About new talent discovered in this year's PSL, Afridi praised young Islamabad United all-rounder Shadab Khan and Karachi Kings spinner Usama Mir and said the PSL has helped find new talent.
"We have discovered a lot of good spinners in PSL. We also need to find a very good batsman for the Pakistan team, our batting lineup needs a good all-round player. Hopefully we will continue to discover new blood in the coming editions too," Afridi said.