After four days of action in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the tournament pauses on Monday with no match scheduled, giving teams a much-needed rest.
A total of six matches have been played so far, with Karachi Kings emerging as early leaders on the points table with four points. Defending champions Lahore Qalandars sit in second place, having secured one win from their two outings.
Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively, both with two points after registering their first wins. Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators are placed fifth, also with two points, following one victory and one defeat. The competition is expected to intensify as teams return to action after the short break.
Sikandar Raza explains events of the final over
Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza has said that the umpires will reveal the truth about what happened in the final over of the PSL 11 match.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Raza clarified that he could only repeat what he had already stated, that he did nothing wrong.
He added that he could say with certainty that the match referee did not call him regarding the incident that took place on the field.
Responding to a question, Raza said that since he is Pakistani by birth, his family and friends were allowed to come and meet him. However, he was later told that he was not permitted to go out, so he complied with the instructions.
Raza further explained that there had been changes in the protocols this time, and he was unaware of them. He said he had informed Shaheen Afridi that his family had come, adding that it was not Shaheen’s fault, as he went at Raza’s request. He also stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been informed about the entire matter, expressing regret that the team could not finish their innings strongly.
It is worth mentioning that the ball-tampering incident proved costly for Lahore Qalandars. The umpires imposed a five-run penalty for altering the condition of the ball, and the matter was also reported to the match referee.
Read more: Umpire awards five penalty runs to Karachi Kings for ball condition
