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March 23, 2024
New Zealand’s Colin Munro Takes Alex Hales’ Spot in the Playing XI
Credit to Pakistan Super League Image Gallery
Islamabad United opener Colin Munro exited the field in the second over of Multan Sultans’ innings during the PSL 9 final at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Stadium.
The 37-year-old was struck on his left leg by a drive from David Willey, which came directly at him.
Munro did not participate in Islamabad United’s Eliminator matches against Quetta Gladiators or Peshawar Zalmi. He was brought into the final lineup as a replacement for Alex Hales.
Before the Sultans’ innings, the New Zealander admitted he was not fully fit but decided to play in the final despite his condition.
“I’m not 100% fit but I am fit enough to play tonight. This is my first PSL final so it’s special for me,” he shared with the commentators.
It remains unclear whether he will return to bat.
The Sultans won the toss and chose to bat first for the match. Mohammad Rizwan’s team remains unchanged, while Islamabad United has made two adjustments to their lineup.
Alongside Munro’s inclusion in place of Hales, Tymal Mills was brought in to replace Obed McCoy, who was declared unfit shortly before the match.
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Tymal Mills
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Johnson Charles, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Mohammad Ali, Abbas Afridi
The Sultans are returning to play after a four-day break, but Rizwan is confident that this pause will not impact the team’s performance.
“Sometimes rest is good, sometimes it isn’t. We will play the same brand of cricket that we have played in the last 11 games.
“Islamabad is a strong team but we’ll look to execute our plans and continue in the same way,” he added.
It is worth noting that the Sultans are appearing in their fourth consecutive final, while United has been making its first final appearance since 2018.
Recently, the Islamabad United all-rounder has emerged as the standout performer for the team.
Credit to Pakistan Super League Image Gallery
Islamabad United’s all-rounder Imad Wasim made history in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine final against Multan Sultans at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday.
At 35 years old, Imad achieved a landmark by becoming the first player to claim a five-wicket haul in a PSL final. His exceptional performance saw him end his four-over spell with remarkable figures of 5-23.
He made an impactful start by dismissing in-form Yasir Khan and David Willey in his opening over.
Imad continued his stellar performance by removing three more Sultans batters—Khushdil Shah, Johnson Charles, and Chris Jordan—securing the historic five-wicket haul.
Imad, who led Karachi Kings to PSL glory in 2020, has been one of Islamabad’s most important players this season. He has stepped up in three must-win matches for his side.
Throughout PSL 9, Imad Wasim has consistently delivered standout perIslamabad’semerging as a pivotal player for Islamabad United. His exceptional form was evident during their crucial group stage match against Multan Sultans. In the first Eliminator, he produced a stellar bowling display with figures of 3-12 against Quetta Gladiators and followed it up with an unbeaten 59 off 40 balls in the second Eliminator against Peshawar ZalIslamabad’s final; the Sultans faced an early setback when their captain, Mohammad Rizwan, was dismissed by Islamabad’s fast bowler Naseem Shah in the opening over. However, Rizwan was given a reprieve as the 20-year-old bowler stepped over the line.
Despite this, the Sultans struggled to gain momentum as Imad Wasim struck early, removing both in-form Yasir Khan and DavSultans’y in the second over, putting the Sultans under significant pressure.
After losing two early wickets, Multan Sultans focRizwan’sstabilizing their innings, with Rizwan and Usman Khan putting together a vital 53-run partnership. The match seemed to be under control for the Sultans until Rizwan was dismissed in the 10th over after contributing 26 runs with three boundaries.
Following Rizwan’s exit, wickets continued to fall, but Usman Khan remained steadfast and continued to challenge the Islamabad bowlers. The UAE international reached his half-century but was dRizwan’s soon after by Shadab Khan, having scored 57 runs off 40 balls.
With the Sultans struggling at 127 for nine, it appeared unlikely they would surpass 130 runs with three overs remaining. However, Iftikhar Ahmed stayed unbeaten until the end, guiding the Sultans to a competitive total.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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