The third edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to begin in style in Dubai on Thursday evening, with the UAE being ready to host the bulk of the four-week T20 action which will culminate in Karachi on March 25.
The tournament itself is a shop window for up and coming stars, as well as seasoned performers, to showcase their skills in front of a passionate fan base.
Here, we shine the light on three performers who are likely to earn plenty of plaudits over the next few weeks.
FAKHAR ZAMAN (LAHORE QALANDARS)
It’s amazing to think the left-handed opener was barely known this time last year, even amongst the most devoted Pakistan cricket observers. For the former Navy serviceman, last year’s Pakistan Super League experience was the springboard to his international career. Indeed, the talent starred for strugglers Lahore Qalandars and stood out after his 33-ball 56 against Karachi Kings. Off the back of that, the Mardan-born batter rose to prominence.
His contributions during the T20I tour of West Indies were nondescript, but his efforts as one of the mainstays in Pakistan’s remarkable surge to Champions Trophy success will live long in the memory. His maiden ODI hundred, 114, in the final against arch-rivals India was all but match-winning, and he’s been pretty much a model of consistency since then. Fakhar’s story goes to show performing in the PSL has its rewards and playing under a man like Brendon McCullum again should help the 27-year-old.
Memorable: Fakhar Zaman celebrates his ton against India last summer.
SHADAB KHAN (ISLAMABAD UNITED)
While the first edition of the PSL unearthed pace ace Hasan Ali, the second brought to light the prodigious talent of the young leg-spinner. Still only 19, Khan’s breakthrough was pretty staggering, as was his ability and variation with the ball. He’s quickly become a key part of the national Twenty20 side, taking an impressive 19 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 16.15.
He’s faired well in ODIs too and has that solitary Test match to his name from last year. His form coming in has been okay and he recorded a brace of wickets in each of the last two T20I clashes with New Zealand. He should play a key role for Misbah’s men and help the inaugural winner’s to go deep but needs to not over-play his wrong’un and have other deliveries up his sleeve against some explosive batsmen.
Shadab Khan is a leg-spin phenomenon who can also bat.
BABAR AZAM (KARACHI KINGS)
One of the brand names of Pakistan Cricket, the 23-year-old comes into the PSL off the back of two consecutive hundreds for Islamabad. The batsman is still looking for his first Twenty20 hundred but will be a lynch pin in a Kings side coached by Micky Arthur and led by Imad Wasim.
Scores of 50* and 41 in the recent series with New Zealand mean Azam is as confident as he can be at the moment and don’t forget he is actually atop the ICC T20I batting rankings, leading the likes of Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (in third) and New Zealand ace Colin Munro.
Star in all formats: Babar Azam.
