HBL PSL 6 - Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings

Memories of previous season final is surely going
to be afresh on both teams' back-of-the-mind

Clash of previous season finalists at the same venue

It was merely some months ago when Karachi Kings was crowned champions of HBL PSL 5 on the same venue on November 17th, 2020, against the same opponent whom they are going to face today. 

A great opportunity for both of the teams

It is a great opportunity for both of the teams to get their multiple statistics get get improved under the evening's game

1. Scores Settled

Head-to-Head KK leads LQ by 7 games to 4.

Like I mentioned above, It is best chance for LQ to get their scores settled against their finalist from

previous season, furthermore it is best chance for them to have their Head-to-Head record against Karachi, since Karachi is leading against LQ with 7 to 4, hence if LQ wins today's encounter, it would reduce the deficit of 3 games in to 2 games, because I personally feel odds are supporting LQ, as pitches at Karachi have been dependent on winning the toss and bowling first, none can forget Karachi Kings v Islamabad United game where latter was able to chase down touching 200 target with balls to spare, hence it is a great chance for LQ to get their multiple scores settled under the umbrella of today's encounter.

2. Par Score at Karachi in Season-6

The maximum score at Karachi have been 190+

This is something which is surely going to haunt Karachi Kings, because the par score at Karachi during season-6 have been first win the toss, field first and chase the target, because franchises instead of researching what is the par score at NSK, they have opted for going-with-the-winds approach, hence it is a great opportunity for LQ because they have a good record of chasing down scores above 190+ against KK, and if previous 10 games of the season are to be taken note of, whoever wins the toss and bowling first is surely going to have the last laugh, furthermore spanking of IU was not long ago where KK was not able to defend score excess of 190, hence odds are favoring LQ more than KK. For KK, it is just like a gamble, to win the toss and field otherwise bat thoughtfully and score something around 230 and than play the game of Required-Run-Rate-Pressure tactics, because anything above 200 means chasing team has to start from 10 RRPO and even a single dot ball is going to add at least 0.15+10, hence the scoreboard pressure will going to play a larger part than, otherwise under 200 target is surely going to be under par scores at least till Karachi-leg of PSL 6.

3. Average Runs Scored against Each Other

Overall Average Runs scored between both teams

But this score is surely going to get settled under tonight's game, because last night game has shattered the record, where IU scored 118 and PZ was able to chase down the target with ease, hence this statistic is surely going to be improved after today's game, surely. Because I referenced last night game between IU and PZ, and whole world saw, how at ease PZ was able to chase down IU target, hence par score at Karachi is void of these score (at the right hand side) and still these are going to change after tonight's encounter.

Under the scenario at NSK

Bat First

And score something excess 220, and play the scoreboard pressure game, because like I mentioned above, anything excess 200 is going to give target of 10 RRPO and every single dot ball is surely going to add at least 0.15 to RRPO hence one single good over is enough to win the game

Bat Second

Like the current scenario being implemented in Karachi, win the toss, field first and chase down the target as think tanks of current franchise owners have sans thought process of what is current par score under placid tracks of NSK, hence most of the FO (franchise owners) have opted for play safe approach of having a target in mind, but it is creating a scenario of monotony, because every team playing second able to chase down scores touching 200s with ease, is something regular during first half of Karachi Leg of PSL.

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HBL PSL 6 - After 27 February, 2021

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HBL PSL 6 - Points Table Position after LQ v QG game

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HBL PSL 6 - After Islamabad v Multan game

Points Table Position After Multan Sultan v Islamabad United

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HBL PSL 6 - Islamabad United v Multan Sultans

The Runs Scoring

While I am writing these lines, Multan Sultan's innings has concluded with the target set for IU 151 in 120 legal deliveries, which is a tricky thing under the circumstances and conditions at NSK, because THE BALL IS SWINGING, furthermore this is till now the highest first innings score at NSK leg of the league, so anything in excess of 7 RPO and ball is swinging here-and-there, I feel this game is surely going to be a cracker as it is hard for me as well who is going to win this battle.

The Choke

 I personally feel MS chocked at the advent of 12th over where in continuum MS lost the momentum and drastically their run rate was in continuous decline. because of which one time MS were looking for a total touching (merely) around 160 for which under the given circumstances, could have been a par score for could test the skills of their opponents.

Why I am saying this?

Because Now Multan Sultans (MS) are going to bowl, where there side is also consisting of variety of bowlers, which includes Remember-The-Name-Brathwaite hence it is a tricky thing so nominate who is going to have a last laugh.

The Last Laugh!!!

These are no telephone number coordinates but the amount of runs scored dealing in sixes, fours, triplets, doubles, singles and dots, where we can easily imagine that apart from boundaries (including both fours and sixes), majority of runs apart them were only singles, so batting second in this pitch is surely test the skills of certain batters, and is surely not going bed-of-roses for the chasing team i.e. Islamabad United.

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HBL PSL 6 - The First Match

Today was the start of HBL PSL 6, where Karachi Kings who were crowned as HBL PSL 5 champions merely few months ago on November 17 2020, are now staging to defend the crown this time around, and unexpectedly they outplayed Quetta Gladiators whom I thought would take Karachi Kings down easily, but the fact is this is first game, and what I have been observing, that team is surely going to win which starts to rise during the tournament, and in my observations, I am not seeing Karachi Kings being lucky like they were last time, maybe if they raise their game to the ocassion.

PSL 6 televised presentation

PCB starting to invest heavily on their Televised presentation, which is being shown on their television broadcast, prior to which we need to understand, due to COVID-19; importance of TV presentation has increased, hence PCB is moving on the right path.

Tomorrow

Just like Quetta suffered with shuffling of their batting order, same is going to be the case for Peshawar as Wahab Riaz and Sammy are having a three days Quarantine period, and they have to have 2 negative tests before they can rejoin PZ, as according to PCB, their rules for pandemic are simple yet stringent hence there is no compromise on COVID-19 restrictions; hence this thing is surely going to hurt PZ against their encounter against Lahore Qalandars, and I personally feel under the said circumstances, LQ are favorites.

What I personally want

A combination of both bat and ball, as I would personally want a thrilling 1 run win match as compared to one team scores 200+ score and in return another team chases it down as if it was a piece of cake

Standings after first game

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2nd Test Match - South Africa tour of Pakistan 2021

South Africa tour of Pakistan

First of all, thanks to Proteas for touring Pakistan in these pandemic scenario where Australians have refused to do the same to South Africa amid the pandemic situation.

A disclaimer before I continue further

The points I am going to raise here are of my own points, and from no point that I am willing to impose my points instead I am just placing my feedback/suggestion regarding the same because being a passionate cricket fan from Pakistan, (although not regular on the scene but still follow Pakistan cricket passionately)

Furthermore; this article is not about how Pakistan is playing this test match but other things which are mattering; which were sans during previous series' played within the country off late.

Things I liked about this current series played in Pakistan

A Standardized Coverage standard 

For the first time after many years, Pakistan had its own Production, although it has been a nubile attempt but still they have opt for home grown production team having collaboration with a Singapore-based production team working along-with PTV and TransGroup, is heartening to see in Pakistan.

Improvement of Equipment

Due to global pandemic situation, importance of Television  Production has increased drastically, because even if we take account of regional Cricket Boards sans BCCI (not because I am anti-Indian, but the fact is; they along with Bangladesh had incorporated home-grown production team; otherwise Pakistan and Sri Lanka used to utilize pre-designed templates to go with, but amid the production debacle during early stage of PSL-V when the original broadcaster opt out of the later coverage of PSL-V and hence in the matter of days, the PSL and PCB had to arrange alternative, and this is when Pakistan had decided to go for a permanent solution and reduce dependency of Indian Based Broadcasters (again No Offense to Indians) but the Sri Lankans followed the same while having IPG Group did the same for SL like TransGroup did for Pakistan.

Good Details

First time in many years I had found a Pakistan cricket coverage so detailed, intriguing and worthy information; just like Hawkeye, Buggy-Cam, Back-Stump Cam view etc are something to worth mentioning for which Pakistan Cricket Board requires pat on the back for the effort, for showing up guts to present Pakistan Cricket as a Package of Product, not a bi-product of individual brilliance.

Things I didn't like / Things which could be improved

Just like there is margin of improvement in every aspect, sudden change is not appreciated by any professional, instead small improvement being made from the span of time period is something appreciated, just like I'd like to bring this thing into notice of masses that when British Sky Sports came up with current presentation template, they persist with it because under the same presentation Younus Khan scored his double hundred, and recently when Pakistan toured England in 2020, it was the same thing but with added additions, and similarly NZ Prime Sports, they have also persisted because of which they have gone with a standard set of presentation, and easier understanding of what data being shown/elaborated on their Info-Bar, have been given ample importance.

About Info-Bar

This is nowhere I am saying to scrap the current presentation template, but there are two major things I would like to bring into consideration;

•  Consistency In Presentation
• Because previously when Pakistan had its home series against Zimbabwe, comprising of ODI and T20 series, the graphical presentation of the series' was totally different from the current presentation, so I would like to have PCB go with the same presentation pattern for future Pakistan's home series' so that people/audience/viewers could easily understand the presentation.

• Interest of Masses in Current Presentation
• One should make sure that not much of the exuberant/drastic changes should be made into current presentation style, instead one should go for slow-and-steady improvement into presentation style, so that your audience could relate presentation style to Pakistan Cricket, just like British Sky Sports presentation is associated with England, Fox Sports with Australia, Prime Sports with NZ, Star Sports with India, Gazi TV with Bangladesh, same should be the case with Pakistan Cricket, because like I mentioned above, now it is the presentation that counts in current pandemic situation globally.

• Info-bar should comprise of 
• The current info-bar should comprise of four sections, where extreme left and extreme right sections of the info-bar should be constant, left-hand-side should comprise of Score, Overs, Target/Deficit (in case there is a test match and/or there is first/second innings of the test match or ODI/T20); 
• Extreme Right-Hand-Side position should permanently present bowling statistics, like bowler currently bowling, with its bowling timeline, speed meter, 
• The Mid-section should be optional whether a 2 section-mid-portion otherwise a single-whole-section where variety of information should be shown, because in current presentation I had found it difficult to go with the data shown, because main data like for instance number of overs bowled, and overs left in the day were overlapped with current batters playing on the crease, which is disturbing for the likes of cricket enthusiasts like me and many more who'd go for Info-Bar for viewing such information instead of going for ESPNcricinfo and/or CricBuzz for such detailed information.

• Instead of;
• Showing sponsors details on hovering-graphics, such things should be utilized for details like field positions, bowling statistics etc, which should keep your audience stick to TV screens instead of going to ESPNcricinfo and/or CricBuzz for going through such details.
• Because the importance of a powerful presentation is stimulate the viewer to stick to TV presentation; and this thing can only be achieved if TV presentation is correlative; because if a viewer is shifting from TV presentation to Online Cricketing Website(s) for achievement of different statistics, you're losing/releasing/leaking audience by this way.

I personally feel such smaller things could be improved in order to cease leakage of audience from viewing Pakistan Cricket as a product.

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