This PSL have been little different in approaching, because even last year PSL, its digital commercial activity initiated well before month, but this time, although I was watching on-roads advertisement and renovation on National Stadium Karachi, but none of it was national media, keeping in mind the official theme was released 4 days before the tournament started, but today's blog post is not about how PSL started, but the way home team i.e. Karachi Kings have been playing like they have forgot how to play.
Take Example of Yesterday's game between them and Quetta Gladiators
This was second of the double header played on the same deck where Lahore Qalandars scored 206 whereas Multan Sultans end up scoring 209 to clinch the day game, but when floodlights lit, situation turned on its head, although taking nothing away from the performance of Naseem Shah, because the line and the length he incorporated; was exceptional, it is just the matter of continuation that how is he going to sustain that form and that confidence; but the way Karachi Kings gifted the wickets, was not up to the expectations from the hosts, as the game is being played in Karachi, furthermore it is also broadcasting partner along with PTV Sports, i.e. A Sports, hence this is ridiculous performance from the so called hosts; who have been granted most of the prime time matches, and hence during the prime time games, we are granted with such ridiculous performance.
Statistically speaking
If you go through the image at left, two thing we are going to note, initially Karachi couldn't play their full quota of 120 balls, furthermore the number of dot balls Karachi consumed is ridiculous, although again taking nothing out of Naseem Shah as the lad did bowl on the right positions, but the same goes with Karachi's batting as they were unable to rotate strikes, instead of every one was looking to strike hard and winning cash award, instead of playing sensibly, where by sensibly I mean rotating the strike and do not create a scoreboard pressure on batters to come, which as per mentioned image, Karachi lost because Naseem Shah took wickets and because of that every one tried to Yuvraj 2007 themselves, because of that Karachi did mockery of themselves, because they are now on the bottom of the table, and their NRR is way below the one second last on the table, means they'd have to win 3 games with bigger margin.
What am I saying
As per match standings after conclusion of Peshawar v Islamabad game, Karachi is on the bottom position, where Karachi's NRR on -1.099, therefore Karachi has to win games like Islamabad did, like winning with more balls to spare, otherwise bowling their opponents out inside the target while balls remaining, otherwise by the time tournament would be touching on semi final stages, Karachi might lag down due to NRR, hence it is important for Karachi to win their today's game against Lahore, which is a Do or Die game for the hosts of Karachi leg of PSL.
Dismal performance
This is a predictive forecaster on Karachi's scoring rates per over, where after Naseem Shah's onslaught, Karachi couldn't recover from the same, because even the forecaster was showing Karachi's scoring rate was declining as the play progressed, otherwise ridiculous display of cricket from Karachi as instead of rotating the strike on continuous, they opted to go for the bang-bang methodology.
Temperament disorder
This phase wise performance of Karachi team clearly exposes their strategy of taking the ball to the 120th ball, because if game was taken to the penultimate ball of their inning, it would definitely helped for the cause, because the game is being played in Karachi, where pitches are being belter, hence playing on these pitches mean you'll have to play with strategy, where stress should be laid on stopping leakage of runs, because this is the way, teams cope with such scenarios.
Phase wise runs distribution
Even if we distribute runs scoring with respect to the phase wise, Karachi's run rate couldn't touch 8 runs per over mark, just because if we go through below mentioned image, the mid portion of the innings was responsible for decline, furthermore fall of wickets hampered their run scoring but carelessness from Karachi; as their batters stopped rotating the strikes and instead of stealing the runs off the opposition, they empowered their opposition.
Karachi doesn't deserve to be in eliminators
Because such pathetic performances, Karachi doesn't deserve to be in eliminators, because I personally feel; the eliminators should be competed between two evenly poised teams, but such tragedy poised performing team should not be allowed to be played in eliminators or even qualifiers, as this is PSL's reputation at stake.
The Itinerary
The itinerary of this PSL has been pathetic, even if due to on going pandemic situation if Lahore's game be played in Lahore and Karachi games in Karachi, whereas Eliminators and Qualifier be played in Rawalpindi, this could also have been arranged with respect COVID-19 restrictions but still some excitement could have been managed, because not every city might be watching a particular game only, you might not agree with my assessment but I personally feel that if games simultaneously be played in Lahore and Karachi, maybe your target audience might be divided but it'll give your target audience a chance to view more like games instead of current itinerary which do not give choice to watch your like game at all.
For Instance
Let me describe my point with respect to current target audience, which is very similar to recently concluded World Cup T20 2021, when it could be arranged and managed there (in UAE) than it could have been managed in Pakistan as well.
Let Me Describe
If Islamabad is playing Lahore in Lahore and Multan is playing Quetta in Karachi; this means two games simultaneously at two different venues, and if these are two day games and in evening other four teams play, it'd generate more crowd in our cricket grounds, and furthermore it'd generated more interest in streaming services, which would be more interesting for the 'target audience'.
We need to educate our target audience as well instead of following something which is already being followed somewhere else
This is my own personal opinion, so one might disagree with my point of view; but I personally feel that instead of following a trend, we require to incorporate something new like that where we give our target audience an option to confirm ownership of the team which I guess should be the priority, instead of one venue at a time which would downgrade the interest of this league, being a Pakistani, I'd like to have this PSL to thrive, and this is something I feel would benefit PSL for sure.
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