Great expectations... from the Lahore Lions

All things said and done, talent alone won’t win the Lahore Lions any game.

Humza Zafar Khan September 12, 2014
The Lahore Lions will be part of the Champions League T20 2014. After winning the local T20 competition, the Lahore Lions are all set with visas in hand to take on the big guns and probably slay a few giants.

Led by Muhammad Hafeez, the former T20 captain of Pakistan, Lahore Lions are capable of spoiling the party for many favourites. The team is decent to say the least. The captain is one of the best all-rounders going around; sometimes he impresses more with his bowling than his batting, but he is a match winner especially in the shortest format. He’s likely to open, but we can also see him come one down with two other openers also on the side.

Other than the ‘professor’, the Lahore Lions have the likes of Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad. Both are promising talents for Pakistan, capable of scoring big runs in the format at a fiery pace. Shehzad and Akmal are regular features of the national team and have proved to be good players in this format especially. Umar Akmal would also provide his services behind the wickets, like he does for the national team in One Day International (ODI) and T20s.

Then this team has Nasir Jamshed. The last time he went to India he averaged just above 120 in three one-day innings, which included two centuries. But since then, Jamshed’s poor form has led to his inability to make meaningful contribution to the team. He has something to prove this time, and the Lions will be hoping he repeats his performances of 2013.

With only 20 overs to play, the above mentioned batsmen should make up the top four and undoubtedly they have the firepower to put decent runs on the board. But will they deliver when the time comes is a question only time will answer. With the batting line-up looking strong, the real problem for this team will be the bowling.

The pace attack will be led by Wahab Riaz; who has been in and out of the national team, mostly due to inconsistency in line and length leading to inconsistency in performances. But with the ability to bowl fast he will definitely put up a good fight.

Photo: Express

He will be partnered with Aizaz Cheema. Out of favours with the national selectors, Cheema also has a point to prove. With the world watching, Cheema will try and get back onto the national side by performing well in this tournament. And don’t be surprised if he sends a verbal message to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) – if he manages to get hold of a microphone.

You will also see Hafeez bowl four overs and they are likely to be economical; but the trump card will be a little known off-spinner Adnan Rasool. Rasool is more than capable of winning a match on his own and don’t be surprised if he causes a few collapses in the opposing batting line-ups.

All things said and done, talent alone won’t win the Lahore Lions any game. They need to prepare well, be focused and smart about the game. They also need to field well and the younger lot (whose names the international audiences will be hearing for the first time) need to play their part efficiently. Most importantly, this team needs to learn how not to defeat themselves, because the likelihood of losing to themselves is far greater than being defeated by any opposition.

This is the best Pakistani team to have made it to the Champions League. But despite that, like all Pakistani teams, it carries a self-destruct button in its pocket; I still wouldn’t bet against the Lahore Lions.
WRITTEN BY:
Humza Zafar Khan He is a student of Marketing and Media, with interests ranging from world sports to politics.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (2)

نائلہ | 9 years ago | Reply ..
chutadpaki | 9 years ago | Reply Ahmed shahzad in a secular country India...Indian govt visa rules are very linient...seriously...ET...Facts
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