The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Badshahs lord it over the rest

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Badshahs lord it over the rest

CHANDIGARH: The idea of including a team like Lahore Badshahs in the Indian Cricket League’s (ICL) Edelweiss 20s Challenge was to increase competitive interest and enhance star value to the Twenty20 competition.

However, after the first week of competition here, it is becoming increasingly clear that, inadvertently, the organisers have let loose a heavyweight in a group of middleweights.

Going by the pounding given by Badshahs to teams like defending champion Chennai Superstars, Hyderabad Heroes and last year’s runner-up Chandigarh Lions so far, there appears only one winner.

Unlike other teams, Badshahs enjoys the advantage of having players from the same country.

In fact, this team is strong enough to give the current Pakistan team a run for its money.

Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq and Rana Naved are players of proven abilities.

Unless a couple of teams hit peak form this week and show the wherewithal to challenge the Badshahs, the men from Lahore will walk all over the opposition in the remainder of the competition.

Tuesday’s match: Mumbai Champs vs. Ahmedabad Rockets (7 p.m.). — Special Correspondent

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