KARACHI: New Zealand cricketer Cole McKenzie has expressed his delight at being part of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the first time, saying the experience was “amazing” despite the disappointing performance by Rawalpindi in the 11th edition.
Speaking to Geo News in an exclusive interview, McConchie said that visiting Pakistan is always a pleasure and praised the team atmosphere within the Rawalpindi camp.
“It’s always great to come here to Pakistan. It’s nice to join the Bindi team, I’ve played with a couple of Kiwis and some familiar Pakistani players before,” he said.
The Kiwi cricketer, playing in his first franchise league match, said he is enjoying his time and is confident of turning things around in the remaining matches.
“We are having a fantastic time and hope to kick things off tomorrow night against Lahore,” he added.
Rawalpindi has struggled to make an impact on the points table so far, but Mackenzie insists there is still plenty to play for.
“It’s obviously a disappointing start to the campaign for us. However, there’s still a lot to play for. There’s a lot of pride in the jersey and representing the Rawalpindis franchise,” he said.
Mackenzie also highlighted that his previous tours to Pakistan helped him adapt to local conditions.
“It’s nice to have experienced the conditions before. The surfaces are a bit different than what we have back home, so I want to use that experience here,” he explained.
The New Zealander praised Pakistan’s hospitality and cricketing culture, revealing that fellow Kiwi Daryl Mitchell also spoke highly of the league.
“Pakistan is always treated well. The food is fantastic. Daryl Mitchell spoke very highly of his experience in the Pakistan league. The people are very hospitable and we really enjoy it here,” he said.
Regarding the quality of competition, McConchie referred to the PSL as a “special league” with high quality cricket.
“Pakistan has always produced amazing talent. When you add foreign superstars, it becomes a very special league. The standard is fantastic and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it,” he concluded.
With four matches remaining, the Rawalpindis will be aiming to bounce back strongly and end their campaign on a high note.
Byzan Lakhani
comments