Skippers set eyes on lifting PSL 4 trophy

DUBAI: With the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) just two days away, captains of all six teams have set their eyes on the glory by lifting the glittering PSL trophy in Karachi on March 17.

All six captains expressed confidence of a good show in the event which starts from February 14 in Dubai.

Lahore Qalandars captain Mohammad Hafeez said that this is an exciting time for him because he is leading a very talented bunch of cricketers.

“We have reworked our strategy this year and we are confident that if we play our natural game, and enjoy each moment of the tournament, we will do well,” Hafeez said.

“We realise what our performance means to our Qalandars fans across the world and we want to make them proud of their association with us. I am confident that they will be right behind us, as always." he added.

Captain of the defending champions Islamabad United Mohammad Sami said that it’s a huge honour for him to be given the responsibility to lead Islamabad United this year.

“I have looked at the squad and there are so many options for us. The young guys have impressed everyone in our training sessions and we are carrying on our tradition of developing the emerging talent of Pakistan. I hope I can lead this group to another PSL trophy,” Sami said.

“We are all working really hard but in the end, we just want to keep things simple, play good cricket and if we do that then the results will come on their own,” added the fast bowler.

Captain of 2017 champions, Peshawar Zalmi, Daren Sammy highlighted that the six teams are very balanced and that is good because everyone will get to see quality cricket in PSL once again.

“I have had the great honour of leading a very talented Peshawar Zalmi side for two years and, this year, we have greater depth in the squad and the experience that guys like Misbah and Pollard bring to our squad is invaluable,” he said.

“We always get great support from our Zalmi fans in the UAE but we are all very excited to experience the love and warmth of crowds in Karachi once again. We are Zalmis and our goal is always to win,” Sammy added.

Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim said that his squad has a balanced core of local players and some excellent foreign players.

“We are keen to do well this year and get our hands on the magnificent PSL trophy. It will be a dream come true for all of us to lift the trophy in front of our home crowd ‪on 17 March and we are going to do everything in our control to win it,” Imad said.

Sarfaraz Ahmed who is captaining the Quetta Gladiators for the fourth successive year, said that Quetta has a lot of depth in the squad this year.

“We have come close in the past three years but we have not been able to get the desired results. The entire Quetta Gladiators squad is determined to change that this time around,” Sarfaraz said.

“We focused on our retention list this year since we wanted consistency in developing our squad. It helps that we have seniors like Shane Watson and Rilee Rossouw returning and they will help the young boys ease into the tournament. I am particularly excited about our young pace bowling talent and I can't wait to see Ghulam Mudassar and Mohammad Hasnain in action whenever they get a chance,” the wicketkeeper-batsman highlighted.

Captain of the Multan Sultans Shoaib Malik said that his players are looking forward to a competitive PSL season four. 

“Of course, our eyes are on the trophy, and we as a team have decided that the best way to get there is to only focus on one match at a time. I wish rest of the teams the very best from the Sultans," Malik said.