Kamal Ghorui
A Pakistan Super League clash between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars delivered high drama even before the first ball was bowled, as a staged mascot scuffle at the toss left players, commentators and fans in splits.The light-hearted “fight” between the two team mascots quickly went viral, with both captains — David Warner and Shaheen Shah Afridi — struggling to hold back their laughter. But it was commentator Ramiz Raja who truly elevated the moment with his witty, play-by-play narration.
‘Don’t spoil the pitch!’: Ramiz adds comic gold
As the mascots mock-wrestled near the pitch, Ramiz delivered a running commentary that turned the scene into instant entertainment.“Well, it is called the classico. We’ve got Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars at each other’s throat before the toss. And there’s a little bit of scuffle, I think, and nothing serious, I think. I just… don’t spoil the pitch, please. I think that’s enough. Enough, guys, enough. You can leave now. We can have the regular toss in now,” he quipped.The humour didn’t stop there. Turning to Warner, Ramiz added: “There’s a little trailer for you, David. In case you didn’t realize the rivalry between Lahore and Karachi, we enacted one for you.”The banter perfectly captured the fierce yet fun rivalry between the two franchises, setting the tone for an entertaining contest.WATCH:
Khushdil’s late blitz seals thriller
Once the laughter subsided, the on-field action lived up to expectations. Karachi Kings chased down 200 in a thrilling finish, winning by five wickets to stay alive in the tournament.After Fakhar Zaman (61) and Abdullah Shafique (62) powered Lahore to 199/6, Karachi looked under pressure for most of the chase.However, Warner anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 63, holding one end together. The game turned dramatically in the final overs when Khushdil Shah unleashed a breathtaking assault.The left-hander smashed 44 off just 14 balls, including a stunning 37 runs off the final 10 deliveries against the likes of Afridi and Haris Rauf. His late blitz completely dismantled Lahore’s death bowling plans and sealed a remarkable win.Earlier, bowlers like Ubaid Shah had kept Karachi under pressure with key wickets, but Khushdil’s fearless hitting flipped the script.
