Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has called on his bowling unit to respond strongly after a disappointing six-wicket setback against Quetta Gladiators in the 26th fixture of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
The defending champions, who began their title defence with promise by winning two of their opening three matches, have since lost momentum in Karachi, suffering three straight defeats. A recurring issue has been their fragile batting lineup, which has failed to complete full 20-over innings in all three matches played at the venue.
Reflecting on the team’s struggles, Shaheen acknowledged that the side is currently under pressure but insisted they remain firmly in contention. He stressed that while batting inconsistencies have hurt them, the responsibility also lies with the bowling group to exert control during the crucial middle overs.
According to the Qalandars skipper, breakthroughs in the middle phase of innings have been missing, allowing opposition teams to build momentum too easily. He urged his bowlers to take greater ownership and provide the balance needed to keep matches competitive.
Despite a run of poor results that has left Lahore seventh on the points table with just four points, Shaheen remains optimistic. With only four league matches remaining, he admitted the situation is straightforward: win everything or exit the competition. However, he was also realistic about the difficulty of the task ahead.
Looking forward, Lahore are set to face winless Rawalpindi in their next outing before quickly meeting Quetta Gladiators again. Shaheen described the back-to-back fixtures as a key opportunity for redemption, emphasizing that belief and collective effort will be essential if the team is to revive its playoff hopes.
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