Is it Time Babar Azam finally moves to Lahore Qalandars?

[Bilal Ahmad15]

In the previous PSL editions, I never even knew that the Karachi Kings - Lahore Qalandars rivalry existed. This is why in the PSL 5 Final (I didn't watch any PSL 5 matches live by the way), I was very surprised to hear the commentators talk about These two franchises having a rivalry. In fact, I thought that there was a rivalry between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi because, in the first 3 - 4 PSL seasons, the matches between Zalmi and Quetta were really tight, entertaining and attracted good crowds in Dubai.

However, in PSL 7, we have seen the proper birth of the Karachi Kings - Lahore Qalandars Rivalry, mainly (and thankfully) due to the brilliant crowd and their excitement, engagement for those two matches, as well as the hype and excitement for the two matches.

But one thing is still standing in the way from this rivalry becoming even better and more established. Babar Azam.Babar Azam is born in Lahore, he is the king of Lahore, the heart of Lahore, yet he plays for Karachi Kings... It simply doesn't make sense at all.

I am fine with Mohammad Rizwan, born in Peshawar, playing for Multan. Same for Shaheen, I can accept that he is playing for Lahore despite being born in KPK region. But Lahore born Babar Azam and Qasim Akram playing for Karachi are not acceptable.


He should definitely move to Lahore Qalandars.

Now is a perfect time as well, after the disaster of Karachi Kings PSL 7. In multiple matches, Babar was sitting by himself, with a haunted look, or he was just angry/ upset. You can tell even the coach and management was not pleased with him. Particularly in their Multan match where Wasim is telling Babar off, and most of all, Match 19, which I consider to be the worst ever effort put in any cricket match that I've watched.

Best For Babar to leave the Karachi Trainwreck, restart PSL life in Lahore.

From now on, it should be a rule that anyone that has played for Lahore for at least 2 seasons cant sign for Karachi, vice-versa.

 

[Rana]

No thanks.

-He will move to LQ and demand captaincy.
-He will open with Fakhar Zaman for a bit and have hit and miss partnerships up top.
-He will then demote FZ to number 3 or 4, whilst keep himself as an opener.

The guy is the most selfish captain I have ever seen in my life!

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

No thanks.

-He will move to LQ and demand captaincy.
-He will open with Fakhar Zaman for a bit and have hit and miss partnerships up top.
-He will then demote FZ to number 3 or 4, whilst keep himself as an opener.

The guy is the most selfish captain I have ever seen in my life!

You do have good points, he isn't a good captain at all. Regardless, in my opinion, it's essential that he plays for Lahore.

He won't demote Fakhar Zaman, and if he does then who will he replace Fahkar Zaman with?

 

[Rana]

You do have good points, he isn't a good captain at all. Regardless, in my opinion, it's essential that he plays for Lahore.

He won't demote Fakhar Zaman, and if he does then who will he replace Fahkar Zaman with?

Probably Kamran Ghulam or Abdullah Shafique. He also has a fetish for rubbish overseas players or over the hill uncles instead of local upcoming talent.

What he did in the last two games by demoting Sharjeel and keeping himself as an opener with his 109 strike rate in the powerplay, I am convinced this guy is an abuse to power

 

[zacattakk]

In the previous PSL editions, I never even knew that the Karachi Kings - Lahore Qalandars rivalry existed. This is why in the PSL 5 Final (I didn't watch any PSL 5 matches live by the way), I was very surprised to hear the commentators talk about These two franchises having a rivalry. In fact, I thought that there was a rivalry between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi because, in the first 3 - 4 PSL seasons, the matches between Zalmi and Quetta were really tight, entertaining and attracted good crowds in Dubai.

The supposed rivalry is all made up. Hype created to stir extra interest in the games. Most of the players don't play for their native areas. Many punjab and KP players are in different teams; a big Karachi contingent has previously been in Quetta because of their owner. If anything Quetta was the real Karachi franchise.

 

[Maher96]

True point on Babar being isolated. But I believe better than Lahore were pressure will be just as same as KK, he should move to QG and replace Sarfraz as captain also.

Other than that a new PSL team might be a good move for him.

KK the ship has sailed.

 

[Rathore]

lq team is in gel now and babar azam is one of the slowest t20 opener , so no thanks qalandars are better without him!

 

[mon858]

He could go to Quetta and play as number 3 without being captain....oh wait Roy, Smeed, Vince and even Ahsan Ali may be better for their top order.
He could go to Lahore and play as number 3 under Shaheen....but wait why spend $$$$$ when he won't offer much different than younger Abdullah Shafiq and Kamran Ghulam already.
He could stay in Karachi but play under Imad.
He could go to Peshawar and maybe Kami can help him find a slot there in top order. But wait Mohammad Haris offer much better as a t20 opener and much cheaper.
Multan is all set.
Not too many options for him I am afraid.
Islamabad won't take him as their brand is totally attacking cricket.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

lq team is in gel now and babar azam is one of the slowest t20 opener , so no thanks qalandars are better without him!

Babar replacement for Abdullah Shafique, that will be totally fine

 

[iniqbal223]

You do have good points, he isn't a good captain at all. Regardless, in my opinion, it's essential that he plays for Lahore.

He won't demote Fakhar Zaman, and if he does then who will he replace Fahkar Zaman with?

How just one lucky game against India changed entire perspective..
Babar is selfish cricketer much more than Sachin of 90s

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

True point on Babar being isolated. But I believe better than Lahore were pressure will be just as same as KK, he should move to QG and replace Sarfraz as captain also.

Other than that a new PSL team might be a good move for him.

KK the ship has sailed.

I would really like it if a seventh franchise is created, and it's obvious that there should be a seventh franchise since a lot of good prospect players played very few matches or no matches this season.

However, it has been agreed by all the franchises and PCB that there won't be any new franchise until PSL 10. But this is probably more because they can't have another franchise due to financial struggles.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Probably Kamran Ghulam or Abdullah Shafique. He also has a fetish for rubbish overseas players or over the hill uncles instead of local upcoming talent.

What he did in the last two games by demoting Sharjeel and keeping himself as an opener with his 109 strike rate in the powerplay, I am convinced this guy is an abuse to power

What Babar is trying to do is he is trying to replicate his very own partnership with Mohammad Rizwan for Karachi Kings so that the two openers (him and Rizwan/Joe Clarke) build the foundation and then a power hitter (Shajreel/Fakhar) comes in at 3.

But Yeah, once again, I don't like it at all, it only works in the big matches in Dubai/ Bangladesh conditions really. Looking at Joe Clarke's performance this season, he is decent but not as good as Rizwan. And I know that you hate hearing this 'building the foundation' stuff lol.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

The supposed rivalry is all made up. Hype created to stir extra interest in the games. Most of the players don't play for their native areas. Many punjab and KP players are in different teams; a big Karachi contingent has previously been in Quetta because of their owner. If anything Quetta was the real Karachi franchise.

It's a very annoying problem to see a high number of players playing for franchises that are not in their region. This is why there should be some rule introduced that franchisees need to pick a minimum amount of players that are from their region, with the exception of Multan and Quetta, since these two have a small number of local players.

And although the Karachi - Lahore rivalry may have originally not been a rivalry and based on hype, I do. think now it will be established as a proper rivalry which is good.

 

[Caved12]

He should now have more than enough reasons to continue to play for Kings and prove his doubters wrong. Babar is just an okay captain who needs to improve big time and this should give him the motivation to work on his captaincy and come back strong next year. I will have no respect for him if he runs away from this challenge.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

The supposed rivalry is all made up. Hype created to stir extra interest in the games. Most of the players don't play for their native areas. Many punjab and KP players are in different teams; a big Karachi contingent has previously been in Quetta because of their owner. If anything Quetta was the real Karachi franchise.

Looks like Family Guy creators did not get the memo.. they seemed to have hyped it up..

[From 2020]

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