Job is only half done, says Peshawar Zalmi's Akmal

Peshawar Zalmi's Darren Sammy made 36 against Karachi Kings at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. (Photo by M. Sajjad)

Peshawar Zalmi's Kamran Akmal said that winning against the Karachi Kings was half the job done and added that they will go all out against the Lahore Qalandars to rubber stamp their spot in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) play-offs.
Defending champions Peshawar Zalmi need to win both their remaining two fixtures to make the four-team cut and they did the first part right as they inflicted a 44-run defeat on the Karachi Kings at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday night. Darren Sammy's side take on the Lahore Qalandars on Friday afternoon and a win against them will put them through.
"The final is still a long way away. Every team wants to be in the final. We still have a game to play and we are taking it game by game," Akmal said on Thursday.
"We were under a bit of pressure because we had to win two games. Eoin Morgan had joined Karachi Kings as captain and that made it tough. It was a do-or-die situation for us but we managed to deliver. Everyone contributed and it was an all-round effort. After my knock, the way our captain Sammy played was fantastic," added Akmal, who top scored with 75.
Akmal has had a stop-start season this year after the high of last season where he was the top run-getter with 353 runs in 11 matches. He had two half-centuries and a century. Akmal has managed 240 runs in nine innings so far with three 50s.   
"I try to give my best and my 100 percent for the team each and every time. But unfortunately, unlike last season, the runs haven't been coming regularly. But I still have three half-centuries this season," he said.
Akmal had made a comeback to the Pakistan team last season based on his performance in the PSL but the 36-year-old wasn't thinking on those lines. "I'm just focussing on the PSL and just thinking of doing well for Peshawar Zalmi. I'm not thinking about comebacks. That is left for the selectors and the coach to decide," said Akmal.
Meanwhile, Karachi Kings assistant coach Azhar Mahmood said that they didn't execute their plans. "Afridi getting out at that time was crucial. We didn't execute our plans. But as long as we learn from our mistakes and bounce back for the next game, we will be fine," said Mahmood.
"We dropped Kamran Akmal and the momentum shifted from there. Babar Azam played a fine innings but Morgan's dismissal put us under pressure. No one wants to drop a catch and Ingram has been one of our best fielders. It happens sometimes. We have to come back hard from this because run rate will come into play. We have one more game to go," he added.
The Karachi Kings take on Islamabad United in the second game on Friday night.