UPDATE: Peshawar Zalmi defeated Islamabad United by 24 runs in its first match of Pakistan Super League T20 2016.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi scored 145-7 in their 20 overs helped by Tamim Iqbal’s half century (51). Andre Russel of Islamabad United took three wickets (31/3). Chasing 146 runs target, Islamabad never looked better on the score card as their wickets continued to fall after quick succession and they were no where in the race. Mohammad Asghar and Wahab Riaz took three wickets each and played a key role in restricting Islambad United to 121-9.
.@SAfridiOfficial's @PeshawarZalmi cap off an impressive victory! Here is the match summary pic.twitter.com/CZyZLWPKfR
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
Asghar received Man of the Match award from students of Army Public School.
What an amazing performance by Mohammad Asghar tonight!#ZalmiKaWaar #HBLPSL #3rdT20 #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/Ip9fC5mJXX
— PeshawarZalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 5, 2016
Peshawar Zalmi, led by cricketing hero Shahid Khan Afridi, is starting off its PSL T20 campaign today against Islamabad United.
Having huge support of people even from other regions of Pakistan, Peshawar Zalmi is being considered favorite for this edition of PSL and will be seen in action for the first time today.
No need to say that the prime focus will be the star cricketer Shahid Afridi, loved by millions of fans not only in Pakistan but also across the globe.
By the cards, Peshawar Zalmi has a better chance of winning with having players like Afridi, Hafeez, and Wahab Riaz in their squad who are currently part of the national team.
Islamabad United will be under huge psychological pressure after the humiliating defeat of last night. We have to watch if Misbah-ul-Haq brings his boys back to business to give a tough time to the opponents.
PSL T20 2016 Opener: Quetta Gladiators Beat Islamabad United By 8 Wickets
Peshawar Zalmi Squad:
Shahid Afridi (c), Wahab Riaz, Darren Sammy, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Hafeez, Chris Jordan, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Khan, James Allenby, Aamir Yamin, Dawid Malan, Imran Khan Junior, Shahid Yousaf, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Asghar, Brad Hodge, Israrullah, Taj Wali, Musadiq Ahamd, Hassan Ali
Islamabad United Squad:
Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Misbah ul Haq (c), Samuel Badree, Mohammad Irfan, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Sami, Khalid Latif, Babar Azam, Imran Khalid, Kamran Ghulam, Umar Amin, Sam Billings, Rumman Raees, Amad Butt, Ashar Zaidi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Siddiq
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Thank you @IsbUnited! All the best for the next match. https://t.co/swRAGzimbG
— PeshawarZalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 5, 2016
#HamzaAli celebrates winning moments.#KhpalTeam #PeshawarZalmi #PSLt20 #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha #PshvIsb #ZalmiKaWaar pic.twitter.com/O2OKB4c1QO
— KhpalTeam (@KhpalTeamPSL) February 5, 2016
The @PeshawarZalmi with Skipper @SAfridiOfficial in huddle with APS Peshawar students and a donated autograph jersey pic.twitter.com/bq8KUmFISA
— M. Faisal Mirza (@mfaisal_mirza) February 5, 2016
Shahid Afridi "I dedicate this win today to the APS school children" #PSLT20 #ZalmiKaWaar
— Pakistan Cricket (@PakCricketPK) February 5, 2016
.@SAfridiOfficial's @PeshawarZalmi cap off an impressive victory! Here is the match summary pic.twitter.com/CZyZLWPKfR
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
United require 56 from the last 5 overs with @sambillings and @Russell12A on strike! Update pic.twitter.com/mxJv6Bq2Bn
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
Oh no! @captainmisbahpk falls and the #Zalmi roar to the skies! @PeshawarZalmi look favourites at the moment.
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
.@PeshawarZalmi are slowly gaining momentum! Here's the score update pic.twitter.com/gkMCFeN4RE
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/695673013346377729/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Competitive total, a full house and a bevy of great players. Anyone else feel this will be a close contest? @PeshawarZalmi @IsbUnited
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
.@PeshawarZalmi have managed to put 145 on the board courtesy @TamimOfficial28! Innings summary pic.twitter.com/QSnZAcWIAc
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
.@SAfridiOfficial is on the crease with 5 overs to go! Exciting times! Score update pic.twitter.com/YaFExFwfNw
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
4-0-19-1 in his first spell since November 2015.
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
4-0-9-1
Telling mini-spell from @REALsaeedajmal and #RummanRaees to stop the @PeshawarZalmi procession. @KamiAkmal23 at the crease now.
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
.@sambillings took an absolute blinder of a catch to dismiss @MHafeez22! Score update pic.twitter.com/tw9CdqIai4
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
Listen to that noise! @PeshawarZalmi in the house! #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/qj2UvI1Uzl
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
Watch @sambillings fly like a bird to grab a stunner! #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/H6s8tIkcex
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
The brilliant #Asrar entertains the crowd at the #HBLPSL as we await the match between @IsbUnited & @PeshawarZalmi pic.twitter.com/KxO8Yh90tU
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 5, 2016
#PeshawarZalmi's first #HBLPSL match against @IsbUnited is only few hours away! Are you ready for #ZalmiKaWaar? pic.twitter.com/9CQ9bZKRu1
— PeshawarZalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 5, 2016
Losing is part of the game! Congratulation to the #Gladiators #ISLUvsGL #ISLU #AbKhelKeDikha #Unitedwein #IsbUnited pic.twitter.com/iuYtgDLbX4
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 4, 2016