Ramiz Raja, Shaheen Afridi and David Warner during the mascot fight. (Download video) The Pakistan Super League clash between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars brought high drama even before the first ball was bowled as a staged tussle between the mascot at the toss left players, commentators and fans in splits.A light-hearted ‘fight’ between the two teams’ mascots quickly went viral and both captains – David Warner and Shaheen Shah Afridi – struggled to contain their laughter. But it was commentator Ramiz Raja who really elevated the moment with his witty play-by-play narration.
‘Don’t mess up the pitch!’: Ramiz adds comic gold
As the mascots pretended to wrestle near the field, Ramiz delivered a running commentary that turned the scene into instant entertainment.“Well, that’s what they call a classic. We’ve got Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars neck and neck before the toss. And I think there was a bit of a scuffle, and I don’t think it’s anything serious. Just…don’t mess up the pitch, please. I think that’s enough. Enough, guys, enough. You can leave now for him to taunt.”The humor didn’t stop there. Ramiz turned to Warner and added, “We’ve got a little teaser for you, David. In case you haven’t been aware of the rivalry between Lahore and Karachi, we’ve got one for you.”The prank perfectly captured the fierce but fun rivalry between the two franchises and set the tone for an entertaining contest.WATCH:
Khushdil’s thriller from the late lightning seals
Once the laughter died down, the action on the field lived up to expectations. Chasing 200 in a thrilling finish, Karachi Kings won 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 an unbeaten 63, holding one end together. The game took a dramatic turn in the final overs as Khushdil Shah unleashed a breathtaking attack.The left-hander smashed 44 off just 14 balls, including a stunning 37 runs off the last 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 kept Karachi under pressure with key wickets but Khushdil’s fearless batting flipped the script.
