PSL 9: Sarfaraz confident Amir’s inclusion will help Quetta

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators’ skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed held a press conference in Karachi on Sunday where he expressed his confidence in new signing Mohammad Amir. PSL 9 is just around the corner and all the teams are shaping their plans for the upcoming edition which is set to begin on February 17. Quetta, who won the title in 2019, will look to win the trophy for the second time in PSL history and they have already strengthened their squad after the addition of players like Wanindu Hasaringa, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and others. Sarfaraz talked to media in Karachi where he asserted that Amir will prove to be a great player for Quetta as he has, in the past, for Karachi Kings. “In the last two years, wherever Amir has played cricket, his team has been performing well,” Sarfaraz said. “Amir and Sohail Khan are experts in both bowling new and old balls. We are hopeful that Amir will prove to be profitable for Quetta Gladiators,” Sarfaraz said. He further stated if overseas players could come before the start of matches, it would be very beneficial as it would help the teams to create the combinations [according to availability]. He was confident that the PSL management would make sure that happens. The former Pakistani captain then went on to talk about newly-elected chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi saying that he did well as a caretaker Chief Minister Punjab. “I want to congratulate Mohsin Naqvi on becoming the chairman of PCB. He has done a great job as a caretaker CM in Punjab over the last 1.5 years. I’m hopeful that he will do great services for Pakistan cricket,” the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain stated. Sarfaraz then went on to praise the Pakistan U19 side which lost the World Cup semi-final narrowly to Australia. “They [U19 players] played fantastically throughout the tournament. Losing the semi-final against Australia because of an inside-edge four is part of the game,” he said. Quetta Gladiators squad for PSLRilee Rossouw (Platinum), Mohammad Wasim, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga (all Diamond), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain (all Gold), Mohammad Amir, Will Smeed (Silver) Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali, Usman Qadir, Adil Naz, Khawaja Nafay, Akeal Hosein, Sohail Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sherfane Rutherford, Bismillah Khan (partial replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga), Sufiyan Muqeem