"KP really wanted to come for the PSL final but his family didn't allow him" : Ahmed Shehzad

[Abdullah719]

"KP really wanted to come for the PSL final but his family didn't allow him" : Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad speaking on TV:

"I don't think Peshawar won or Quetta lost. Pakistan won. I can't explain the feeling and no matter how much cricket we play in UAE, you won't feel the same there. Playing in front of your home crowd and your family makes you want to do even better. Credit goes to PCB."

"KP really wanted to come to Pakistan and I am still communicating with him. He was just recently asking about the atmosphere in Lahore and gave his commiserations for our loss. His family, however, didn't allow him as it was a sensitive matter."

"It's a bigger loss for the foreign players to have missed out on the PSL final. Not taking anything away from the replacements but it's really tough for someone to come one day before and adapt to the team and perform in a final. We just told them to enjoy themselves."

"We have gotten a lot out of the PSL specially the youngsters who go a chance to show their skills. Shinwari is an amazing bowler and did really well. Nawaz and Fakhar also performed really well."

"We haven't had international cricket for a while in Pakistan so because of that, grounds have deteriorated which is why Gaddafi Stadium's preparation perhaps wasn't ideal. Due to that, the track didn't play as we expected it to. Normally a T20 final has a batting track where 200 runs are scored. But hopefully international cricket will start returning to Pakistan and then in time, the pitches and grounds will improve."

"It's a sensitive time and people are saying the whole of PSL should be next year. We should focus on this PSL final for now as it took a lot of effort and the other things will improve in time."

 

[shane]

That's interesting what he says about the pitch. Does this ground not host domestic matchs, or do they not bother preparing decent pitches for domestic games? If it is the latter, it goes a long way to explaining why Pakistanis cannot bat or field.

 

[Rayyman]

Feel bad for QG.

 

[Slog]

That's interesting what he says about the pitch. Does this ground not host domestic matchs, or do they not bother preparing decent pitches for domestic games? If it is the latter, it goes a long way to explaining why Pakistanis cannot bat or field.

Pitches are underprepared and often shoots of grass is left on the pitch

Which is why you have mediocre talents like Hammad Azam having stats better than Dale Steyn

 

[SL_Fan]

KEVIN PIETERSEN HAS SIGNED FOR SURREY CCC TO PLAY IN THE 2017 NATWEST T20 BLAST

His first game of the season will be Surrey’s big game against the Essex Eagles at the Kia Oval on Wednesday July 19th and he will then stay with the squad for the entire competition.

Pietersen, 36, is one of the most iconic players of his generation. He broke out onto the world stage at The Oval in England’s historic Ashes victory in 2005 and first signed for Surrey in 2010.

Since then, he has played some of the most destructive and memorable innings of recent years in a Surrey shirt.
His 355* against Leicestershire at the Kia Oval in 2015 came just two runs short of breaking Bobby Abel’s hundred-year-old record for the highest ever individual score for Surrey whilst his 234* against Lancashire at the 2012 Guildford Festival will live long in the mind of the packed crowd at Woodbridge Road.

Pietersen has most recently been in action in the Australian Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League, putting in match winning performances for both the Melbourne Stars and the Quetta Gladiators.

He will available for Surrey’s big Friday night fixtures against Middlesex (July 21st) and Glamorgan (August 4th) as well as the club’s first ever domestic T20 double header when Surrey take on Sussex on Sunday August 13th – when the Surrey Stars also play the Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Women’s Super League – and the final home game of the campaign against Gloucestershire on Thursday August 17th.

If Surrey are successful in reaching the knock out stages of the T20 Blast, Pietersen will also be available for selection in these games.

Speaking today, Kevin Pietersen said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be joining Surrey again. I’ve missed playing here at home and it’s going to be a special feeling walking out at The Kia Oval again.

“We’ve got some seriously talented guys in our team and I’m very confident we can achieve something really special this season.

“I’ve had some great times at this club and ground over the years; it’s a special place with top people, and I’m looking forward to once again being part of it.”

Surrey CCC Director of Cricket, Alec Stewart, said: “Re-signing KP is a massive boost to the club and the NatWest T20 Blast competition.

“To have a player of his undoubted calibre available to us will add strength and experience to our squad and I’m sure all our fans will enjoy seeing him back playing in England again.

“His work ethic and appetite for success are infectious and our squad have always enjoyed having him around the dressing room and performing out in the middle.”

Link

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

He was on the plane back an hour after the match.

He is a total user. Him and Luke Wright should not be invited to next PSL.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

He was on the plane back an hour after the match.

He is a total user. Him and Luke Wright should not be invited to next PSL.

Which match?

What do you mean?

 

[Abdullah719]

He was on the plane back an hour after the match.

He is a total user. Him and Luke Wright should not be invited to next PSL.

Yeah the decision was obviously made already. Why should he have hung around in Dubai after the match ended when it was already decided?

There needs to be some uniformity, anyway. Can't have a farce like this again with teams needing a new set of players for a match. It's good that the match was in Pakistan but it completely spoilt the quality of cricket.

Either players should be willing to go to Pakistan or the match(es) shouldn't be held there.

 

[Pakistani Pace]

He was on the plane back an hour after the match.

He is a total user. Him and Luke Wright should not be invited to next PSL.

I agree. Shouldn't play next PSL.

 

[Bewal Express]

Didnt Sethi that it was IK that stopped him.

 

[786warrior]

Shame Shehzad's family didn't feel the same about him turning up for the final!!

 

[fitCricFan]

Ahmed Shehzad speaking on TV:

"I don't think Peshawar won or Quetta lost. Pakistan won.

I hope Shezad was kidding. One match played under the protection of more than 100,000 personnel including paramilitary with additional unprecedented security blanket on the stadium is a success!!!! If that's the criteria of success for PCL next year then good luck getting this sort of security for every match and also staying profitable after footing the security bill. Cricket or for that matter any game needs to be played with a relaxed, free mind not thinking about a probable attack at the back of your mind. I don't blame the foreign participants from having second thoughts on playing under such conditions. It can be stressful for anyone.


so much security that would is typically reserved for that would which So a cricket match played with so much security

 

[Hasan123]

Which match?

What do you mean?

Basically after Quetta won the play off game and were in the final, KP took the 1st flight back to London.

 

[Syed1]

Didnt Sethi that it was IK that stopped him.

Huge slap on Sethi's face.

 

[Pakpak]

I hope Shezad was kidding. One match played under the protection of more than 100,000 personnel including paramilitary with additional unprecedented security blanket on the stadium is a success!!!! If that's the criteria of success for PCL next year then good luck getting this sort of security for every match and also staying profitable after footing the security bill. Cricket or for that matter any game needs to be played with a relaxed, free mind not thinking about a probable attack at the back of your mind. I don't blame the foreign participants from having second thoughts on playing under such conditions. It can be stressful for anyone.


so much security that would is typically reserved for that would which So a cricket match played with so much security

100,000?

What?

It was 10,000. But a lot yes, even then.

As for Sethi...a proven liar.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I hope Shezad was kidding. One match played under the protection of more than 100,000 personnel including paramilitary with additional unprecedented security blanket on the stadium is a success!!!! If that's the criteria of success for PCL next year then good luck getting this sort of security for every match and also staying profitable after footing the security bill. Cricket or for that matter any game needs to be played with a relaxed, free mind not thinking about a probable attack at the back of your mind. I don't blame the foreign participants from having second thoughts on playing under such conditions. It can be stressful for anyone.


so much security that would is typically reserved for that would which So a cricket match played with so much security

The world wanted to see if Pakistan could provide security and they have proved it.

Security process will mature and become less visible over time but it shows 100% that Pakistan can provide security for cricket matches.

Next step is to expand this out to other cities.

I have stopped listening to the naysayers, our cricket is dieing. We need revenue from home matches. To wait till Pakistan becomes peaceful utopia is simply not an option. At best we can become like Brazil but even then security is required because Brazil is full of violent crime.

As long as the cricket community feels safe during their tours then they will come. The more high profile matches Pakistan play in Pakistan the more goodwill they generate and pictures of happy Pakistanis enjoying their cricket and filling stadiums. This is priceless.

 

[msb314]

Pitches are underprepared and often shoots of grass is left on the pitch

Which is why you have mediocre talents like Hammad Azam having stats better than Dale Steyn

This guy deserves a proper chance before we judge him - just like Anwar ali got to play many games before we decided he was rubbish.

Playing one game here and there is not a great way to develop young players and certainly not a good way to judge a player.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

I hope Shezad was kidding. One match played under the protection of more than 100,000 personnel including paramilitary with additional unprecedented security blanket on the stadium is a success!!!! If that's the criteria of success for PCL next year then good luck getting this sort of security for every match and also staying profitable after footing the security bill. Cricket or for that matter any game needs to be played with a relaxed, free mind not thinking about a probable attack at the back of your mind. I don't blame the foreign participants from having second thoughts on playing under such conditions. It can be stressful for anyone.


so much security that would is typically reserved for that would which So a cricket match played with so much security

It was a success in the sense that no untoward incident happened. Maybe because of it when some team is touring us in UAE they might be willing to play 1 T20i or Odi in Pakistan. And even Shehzad said no need to talk about hosting the whole psl next year just be happy that we were able to hold the final properly this year.

 

[fitCricFan]

The world wanted to see if Pakistan could provide security and they have proved it.

Security process will mature and become less visible over time but it shows 100% that Pakistan can provide security for cricket matches.

Next step is to expand this out to other cities.

I have stopped listening to the naysayers, our cricket is dieing. We need revenue from home matches. To wait till Pakistan becomes peaceful utopia is simply not an option. At best we can become like Brazil but even then security is required because Brazil is full of violent crime.

As long as the cricket community feels safe during their tours then they will come. The more high profile matches Pakistan play in Pakistan the more goodwill they generate and pictures of happy Pakistanis enjoying their cricket and filling stadiums. This is priceless.

"Security process will mature" makes no sense . if you are implying that security can learn from its mistakes then good luck with any out-of-country participation.

Providing a one-off security cover is not an issue. The question is how long can you sustain it and remain financially viable? It is insane to expect every match in the tournament to be played under this sort of enhanced securty as was provided for the PSL final. The security implications for regions/areas left unguarded or undergiarded when the police police moves to cover the game is anyone's guess.

I hope you are not comparing an event like the Olympics with PSL/IPL or any national tournament around the globe. Brazil has its problems with crime but terrorism is a differnt beast. Olymics is one event where players from almost every country converge at a single place and its a prime location for trouble , hence demands extraordinary security. Just lookup the security cost for the most recent one to get an idea if any national tournament can even afford it. As an FYI, a lot of nations at the Olymipcs have their own security detail guarding their players

All you can hope is one-off matches in the country, maybe like a SF's and Finals or you can turn the stadium into a fortress for the entire duration and have every single match in there.