This one is a do-or-die game for the Chris Harris-led team and it will require a very special performance if they are to stop rampaging Badshahs AHMEDABAD: How good is this Lahore Badshahs team? Some pundits believe they could give the current Pakistan team a run for its money.
Opener Imran Farhat and Imran Nazir are the cleanest hitters in the game, while Mohammad Yusuf and Mohammad Sami would walk into the Pakistan team. For a big man, Inzamam-ul Haq is still light on his feet and Azhar Mahmood can turn a match on its head even today.
After their four-wicket win over Hyderabad Heroes in the first final of the Indian Cricket League’s 20s tournament the Badshahs have reason to believe that they can win the second final too. The Heroes are no push-overs either and ran the Badshahs close on Friday night. On the eve of the second final both skippers were bullish about their chances.
Chris Harris believes his team will be able to play without any pressure. “We have nothing to lose. From here on we have no pressure and will have to go all out for a win,” Harris said. The Badshahs don’t want to work on Sunday. They want to finish off their business on Saturday evening it self.
“After winning the first game the confidence level among the boys is high. No team would want to take a best-of-three final into the third game,” Inzamam said.
The former Pakistan skipper spoke of the brand of aggressive cricket his team has been playing. “We want to take on the opposition from the word go. Even when the required rate was six-plus we began the chase hoping to finish the game early,” Inzamam said.
Adopting an out-and-out aggressive approach can also backfire. The Heroes almost got back into the game on Friday before the Badshahs eased ahead.
“After getting the wickets of Inzamam and Yousuf in the same over we had an outside chance of winning the first final,” said Harris.
The New Zealander is happy with the way his team performed, especially the spinners who he believes can put a brake on the Badshahs batting charge. “With a tight spell from them (Indra Sekhar Reddy and Nicky Boje) we made some inroads,” admitted Harris. Inzamam too was happy with the way his bowling unit shaped up.
“I always feel that restricting the Hyderabad Heroes, a team that bats really deep, is half the battle won. Our bowlers have done what was expected of them. Inzamam was particularly pleased with Rana Naved-ul Hasan, who gave away just four runs in the 20th over and got the wicket of Abdul Razzaq. Rana Naved heads the wicket-takers’ list. “He has been wonderful throughout the tournament and has given us breakthroughs and played important knocks. His last over in the first final was the turning point of the game,” Inzamam added.
Inzamam will just hope that things fall into place on Saturday. Harris will have to ensure his team finds a way to stop the Badshahs.
