LAHORE-Iftikhar Ahmed,\u00a0who\u00a0is back with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League 6, is excited to be donning United\u2019s red and gold and also hopeful of playing a productive role in their ongoing campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt feels good,\u201d said the 30-year-old middle-order batsman, who had won the 2018 edition with the franchise. \u201cI have played before for Islamabad United and won a title with them in Karachi. The support staff and the team management is very helpful. It was my wish to play for Islamabad United again. I hope that Islamabad will lift the trophy again.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iftikhar stroked a crucial 49 not out against Karachi Kings \u2013 for whom he turned out in 2016, 2019 and 2020 \u2013 to help United surmount a daunting 197-run target with five balls spare in their second outing of the season. He struck three sixes and two fours and stitched match-altering stand of 92 with Hussain Talat over his 37-ball knock. Reflecting on that match, Iftikhar said: \u201cAs a professional, when you perform against any team, you get happy. I was in Karachi Kings for three years, so when I did well against them, it helped boost my confidence. \u201cMy role as a middle-order batsman is to take the game deep and finish it. So, I try to build the innings by scoring run-a-ball early on and then increase my scoring rate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To a question about how he copes with criticism, Iftikhar said that rather than taking it negatively, he uses it as a driving force to improve his performances. \u201cWhen I am criticised, I work harder,\u201d he said. \u201cI try to prove the criticism wrong with my performances. This edition of the PSL provides a brilliant opportunity to all the participating players to stake a claim in the national side for the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup later this year with outstanding performances. Naturally, Iftikhar is eyeing a spot. \u201cI have been part of the national team\u2019s set-up for the past two years and I am determined to represent Pakistan in the T20 World Cup,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE-Iftikhar Ahmed,\u00a0who\u00a0is back with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League 6, is excited to be donning United\u2019s red and gold and also hopeful of playing a productive role in their ongoing campaign.\u00a0 \u201cIt feels good,\u201d said the 30-year-old middle-order batsman, who had won the […]<\/p>\n
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