LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ all-rounder Moeen Ali admitted the challenges he went through facing the spinner duo of Quetta and said he felt lucky to have survived the pressure.
Moeen was named Player of the Match after his composed innings and disciplined bowling helped secure a 14-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in the second match of PSL 11. Speaking after the game, Moeen shared insights into how he handled the pressure against Quetta’s spinners and his approach with both bat and ball.
Moeen admitted that facing Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq was a challenge, given their quality and unfamiliarity: “Obviously, two very good spinners. I’ve never really faced them that much before, and the wicket wasn’t as good as probably how we started. We started amazingly well in the powerplay; both teams did. But then it wasn’t so easy to hit the ball. You just had to try and play good cricketing shots and not panic.”
He credited his experience for helping him stay calm in difficult situations: “Years ago I would have panicked, but a bit of experience helps. I kind of know when I need to go, but even then, I’m still pretty calm about things.”
On Tariq specifically, Moeen noted: “He’s just very different. Obviously, he’s a world-class spinner. I think he breaks your rhythm as a batter, but I just tried to delay everything as much as I could.”
Moeen also reflected on his role with the ball, explaining how he adjusted his lengths depending on the situation: “Just trying to spin the ball first of all. Early on in the powerplay, a bit fuller as there was a bit of grip. Then later on, depending on the situation, you try and bowl back of a length, trying to hit the top of the stumps.”
“His spell of 1 for 26 in four overs provided Karachi with crucial control in the middle overs, complementing Hasan Ali’s match-winning four-wicket haul.”
Looking at the bigger picture, Moeen emphasized the importance of starting PSL 11 with a win: “Yeah, it’s always nice to get the points on the board first of all, but it’s very early. We have things to improve on, but it’s a great start in the tournament, and like I said, to get the two points even if it’s an ugly win.”
