Islamabad wins PSL with Karachi back on cricket map
Karachi: The stands of Karachi's National Stadium roared with chants from a packed holiday crowd as international cricket returned to the Pakistani metropolis after a nine year break with the final of country's Twenty20 league on Sunday.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) final — in which Islamabad United beat title holders Peshawar Zalmi by three wickets — is seen as a major step towards reviving international cricket in the country, suspended since 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
The attacks left Pakistan cricket forced into exile, with international teams refusing to tour the terror-hit country over security fears and the national team left to play its home matches in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The first 31 matches of the PSL were again played in Dubai and Sharjah before the two play-offs in Lahore, highlighting the improvement in security situation after military operations in the troubled north-west of the country.
Islamabad, who won the title in the inaugural year in 2016, rode on a brisk 26-ball 52 by Luke Ronchi spiced with five sixes and four boundaries which anchored his team's successful chase of 149-run target in 16.5 overs.
Ronchi also finished as top run-getter with 435 runs in 11 matches. Asif Ali smashed three sixes in his 26 not out.
Peshawar Zalmi faltered in their batting after winning the toss as their top scorer of the league Kamran Akmal managed just one off nine balls.
Chris Jordan topscored with 36 while Andre Fletcher scored 33 and Wahab Riaz made 28 not out. Spinners Shadab Khan took three and Samit Patel chipped in with two wickets.
