Karachi Kings restricted Lahore Qalandars to 134 for 7 in 20 overs and then chased down the target comfortably losing only 5 wickets in 19th over thanks to Babar Azam’s unbeaten fifty in the final of Pakistan Super League 2020. Skipper Imad Wasim, who took a wicket conceding six runs in two overs and remained unbeaten on 10 after hitting winning runs for the Kings.
Dean Jones was a much-loved and respected figure in Pakistan and was appointed Karachi King’s coach before the commencement of PSL 2020 in March. Wasim Akram stepped in as a replacement coach of Karachi Kings in the playoffs after the sudden demise of Dean Jones while covering as a commentator for IPL 2020.
Karachi Kings Win Should Be Credited To Dean Jones: Imad Wasim Says It’s Honor To Captain
Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim and coach-cum-mentor Wasim Akram both dedicated their team’s maiden Pakistan Super League title to the late commentator and coach Dean Jones after they beat Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2020 final on Tuesday.
Dean Jones, popularly known as ‘Professor Deano’, was appointed the team’s coach before the start of PSL 2020 in March, just before the coronavirus pandemic forced all sports to come to a halt as various cricketing and sporting events were either postponed or cancelled.
“Dean Jones, of course, gets credit because what he taught us, very few coaches in the world can. Wasim Akram, of course, deserves the trophy because he was our bowling coach, head coach, mentor and team president rolled in one. It’s an honour to captain this franchise,” Imad said.
The 59-year-old former Australian cricketer died of a sudden heart attack in Mumbai on September 24 while he was covering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 as a broadcaster. Wasim Akram stepped in as a replacement for him at Karachi Kings in the playoffs.
Karachi Kings Dedicate PSL 2020 Win To Dean Jones And Pakistan Fans; Wasim Akram Congratulates Imad Wasim
In the final, Karachi Kings restricted Lahore to 134 for 7 in 20 overs and then chase down the target in 18.4 overs largely due to opener Babar Azam’s unbeaten fifty-
“Hi guys, Karachi Kings are the champions. It’s for Dean Jones and of course for the fans of Karachi, you have been waiting for this for 5 years. Congratulations Karachi Kings and our skipper Imad Wasim, well done,” Wasim Akram said in a special video message after the game.
Chasing 135 for victory, opener Babar Azam led the way for the home team scoring 63 not out off 49 balls comprising 7 boundaries to cross the finish line with 8 balls to spare. This was his second match-winning fifty in a row after the 65 against Multan Sultan in the qualifier, which also came in a successful run chase. Karachi Kings won the Super Over in the match against Multan after scores were tied.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandar’s lineup packed with power-hitters stuttered against Karachi King’s all-Pakistan bowling attack led by Umaid Asif (2/18), Waqas Maqsood (2/18) and Arshad Iqbal (2/26) to post a below-par 134 for 7 on the stipulated 20 overs after opting to bat first in the summit clash. Apart from openers Tamim Iqbal and Fakhar Zaman, the rest of Lahore batsmen failed to score more than 15.
Babar Azam scored 473 runs in 12 games averaging 59.12 with 5 fifties to top batting charts.