- Says Pakistan is a proud cricketing nation and Shahid Afridi is a great ambassador of the game
Sharjah, 20 February 2019:
Multan Sultans’ new recruit Laurie Evans looks forward to a memorable tour of Pakistan once the matches of the HBL PSL 2019 shift to the country, trusting the security arrangements made for the teams.
Evans, 31, hit a polished 49 in Multan’s narrow seven-run defeat against Karachi Kings on his HBL PSL debut before managing 15 in his team’s win over Lahore Qalandars.
Evans said it will be exciting to tour Pakistan when the league shifts there for the last eight matches, including the March 17 final in Karachi.
“Pakistanis are enthusiastic about cricket,” said Evans. “I am sure there is a real desire to bring international cricket back to the country. I am really excited to go to Pakistan and I am sure I will be looked after really well.
“That should be a great experience and I am sure it will be a memorable one and I am really excited and look forward to the games coming up.”
Evans will not be the first England player to tour Pakistan. For the first final played in Lahore in 2017 and three matches in Karachi and Lahore last year, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Dawson, Tymal Mills, Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel (2018) toured Pakistan.
Evans said he has always found Pakistan players talented and loving.
“Every time I have played with someone from Pakistan, its been nothing but lovely,” said Evans who has also played in the Afghan League in Sharjah last year and Bangladesh Premier League this year.
“They are talented cricketers, so certainly Pakistan is a great cricketing country.”
Evans said he believes the security personnel who have put good security arrangements for the players and teams.
“I just trust the people looking after us,” said Evans. “We are looked after well here (in UAE). They wouldn’t put us in danger any more than they put themselves in danger. So, I am sure hopefully everyone in Pakistan wants the PSL to do well and it will be absolutely fine.”
Playing for Sussex in the Twenty20 blast in England last year, Evans topped the batting charts with 614 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 135.84. He also hit a blistering hundred for Rajshahi Kings in the BPL last month.
But Evans believed the bowling standards are the best in HBL PSL.
“Well, I mean I had a great winter. I have been to the Afghan league, T10 league and then the BPL, and now I am in the HBL and this tournament is the biggest and the bowling is the toughest I have faced.”
“Its a great challenge and I am loving it. I am playing with a great squad and its getting better. I am learning and I hope to leave as a better player.”
Evans reckons HBL PSL is a good experience for his career.
“I think from my experience so far, the first game was good and it was good to get some runs. The second game was at a tough wicket and the bowling was of top quality, so there were no babbles at all. So you have got to be on it as a batter.
“The wickets aren’t the easiest to bat on, but hopefully in Sharjah the wickets would be good so we would be able to put the bowlers under pressure.”
He acknowledges the atmosphere in the February 14 opening ceremony was exhilarating.
“Its been a great atmosphere, the opening ceremony was amazing. The crowds were good and we obviously have Lala (Shahid Afridi) in our team, so the crowds always gonna be good and I hope they keep coming. Its exciting,” said Evans.
Evans said Afridi is a great ambassador of the game.
“I have played against him a lot. He played for Hampshire, we played against each other in BPL and the T10. Its nice to play with him for the first time and I am happy that I don’t have to face him here. He is a great person and a great ambassador for the game.”
Upcoming matches:
Thursday (match 9) – Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, Sharjah (match starts 9pm PST)
Friday (match 10) – Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Sharjah (match starts 430pm PST)
Friday (match 11) – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Sharjah (match starts 9pm PST)
