Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik has stepped down as Karachi Kings captain for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League season. Ravi Bopara has been named his replacement. Malik informed the Karachi management that he was unable to concentrate on his cricket due to his captaincy duties and that he was content to sit out as long as the team won. “The team is suffering at the end of the day. As a result, I decided not to lead the team in the remaining matches (this season). It’s possible that instead of juggling so many things, I’ll be able to focus more on my batting, bowling, and fielding “Malik stated.
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I was having difficulty concentrating on my own game. I’m hoping we put on a good performance tomorrow and throughout the tournament. Malik noted that this was not the first time a stand-in captain had led a PSL team. “Perhaps the team can improve. Maybe if someone else takes over the (captaincy), Karachi Kings will start winning. We’ve seen in the PSL that if a player misses a few games, the team starts winning.
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Malik has 157 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 113.76 and an average of 26.16. Malik led Karachi to two group stage wins in eight games, advancing to the playoffs after finishing fourth, ahead of Lahore Qalandars on a better head-to-head record. Bopara currently ranks second in both run-scoring and wicket-taking. He has scored 292 runs in eight matches at an average of 58.40 and a strike rate of 137, trailing only Umar Akmal’s competition total of 335 runs. Bopara has 11 wickets at a 6.57 economy rate with the ball. On February 20, Karachi Kings will face Islamabad United in the second qualifying final.