Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans pay touching tribute to Dean Jones before PSL 2020 playoffs

Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans paid a touching tribute to Dean Jones before the restart of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Saturday. The fifth edition of the PSL had to be postponed in March this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament was postponed before the playoffs.

Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans took on each other in the qualifier. And before the start of the match, both the teams decided to pay tribute to Dean Jones. The former Australia batsman and Karachi Kings head coach had tragically passed away after a sudden cardiac arrest in Mumbai on September 24. He was in India for the IPL duties.

Jones was Karachi’s coach earlier this year. The players of the two teams stood in the shape of a ‘D’ to pay a tribute to him. Jones was associated with PSL right from its first season. Before becoming Karachi’s coach, he had coached Islamabad United and helped them win the PSL title in 2016 as well as 2018. For the ongoing playoffs, Karachi Kings have roped in bowling legend Wasim Akram as their coach.

Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans

The PSL 2020 playoffs started on a thrilling note as Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans in the super over to make it to the final for the very first time. Chasing 142, Karachi Kings were cruising at one stage before a late collapse saw them nearly throw the game away. But in the end, they emerged as the winners as Sherfane Rutherford and Mohammed Amir starred in the Super Over.

In the Super Over, Amir gave away only nine runs against Rilee Rossouw and Ravi Bopara. Before that, Karachi had scored 13 for 2 in their super over. Rutherford, who was dismissed on the last ball of the super over, put Karachi on top by smashing the fourth and fifth deliveries of the over by Sohail Tanvir for a six and a four.

Earlier in the game, both the teams had finished on 141. Multan had scored 141 for 7 before Karachi finished on 141 for 8. Karachi skipper Babar Azam made 65 off 53 balls to have his side in control at 116-3 in the 17th over before a late collapse saw them lose five wickets in the last four overs.