Luke Ronchi and Faheem Ashraf among the players that makes our PSL Team of the Year

Denzil Pinto 17:04 26/03/2018
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  • Scoring the runs: Luke Ronchi. Image: @ThePSLt20

    After four weeks and 34 matches, it was Islamabad United who were crowned champions of the Pakistan Super League for the second time following their three-wicket victory over 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday night.

    Like the previous two editions, there have been some exceptional displays from elite and upcoming cricketers and 2018 was no different.

    Whether it was Kamran Akmal’s big-hitting or Imran Tahir’s hat-trick, the third edition was another massive hit with the players playing their part in putting on a spectacle.

    With the competition done and dusted for another 12 months, we look at the players who have made our Team of the tournament in 2018…

    CAPTAIN: SHAHID AFRIDI, KARACHI KINGS

    Matches: 10
    Runs: 47, 100s: 0, 50s: 0
    Wickets: 13

    Produced one of the best moments in the tournament with that stunning catch against Quetta Gladiators and while he didn’t have the best of times with the bat, he was effective with the ball. The vice-captain was promoted to skipper for the last four games and although Kings couldn’t reach the final in their home city, he was a key wicket-taker even after missing three matches.

    KAMRAN AKMAL, PESHAWAR ZALMI

    Matches: 13
    Runs: 425, 100s: 1, 50s: 4, HS: 107*

    He didn’t have the best of times in the final with that dropped catch and a single run but the 36-year-old can look back on a positive campaign. Finished second highest scorer and is the only man to have reached triple figures. Also hit the fastest fifty in the history of PSL off just 17 balls against Karachi Kings.

    LUKE RONCHI, ISLAMABAD UNITED

    Matches: 11
    Runs: 435, 100s: 0, 50s: 5, HS: 94*

    After scores of 3 and 0 in his first two games, the ex-New Zealand batsman bounced back in style to end the season as a PSL winner and top-scorer. Stole the show in the Eliminator in Dubai with a stunning 94 off 34 deliveries against Karachi Kings before hitting the fourth fastest 50 in PSL off 25 balls. Finished with a strike rate of 182.00.

    BABAR AZAM, KARACHI KINGS

    Matches: 12
    Runs: 402, 100s: 0, 50s: 5, HS: 66

    Already has impressed at international level in the 50-over format and the 23-year-old again showed his potential in T20s. Used either to open the batting or at No.3, Azam was one of the consistent batsmen for Karachi Kings. Scored three consecutive half-centuries and added to that tally with his final knock against Peshawar Zalmi.

    FAKHAR ZAMAN, LAHORE QALANDARS

    Matches: 10
    Runs: 277, 100s: 0, 50s: 1, HS: 94

    With a team boasting the likes of Brendon McCullum, it would’ve needed a series of fine efforts to finish as his side’s top batsman and that’s exactly what Zaman did. In a disappointing season for Lahore Qalandars, the 27-year-old hit 49 in his first game but his best was to come with his 94 in the victory over Quetta Gladiators.

    SHANE WATSON, QUETTA GLADIATORS

    Matches: 10
    Runs: 319, 100s: 0, 50s: 2, HS: 90*
    Wickets: 11

    The Australian showed once again of his all-round abilities with a series of superb displays with the bat and ball. The 36-year-old took three wickets in his opening game and managed to get a scalp each in nine of his 10 matches. With the bat, played an instrumental role to seal a play-off spot.

    KUMAR SANGAKKARA, MULTAN SULTANS

    Matches: 10
    Runs: 269, 100s: 0, 50s: 3, HS: 63
    Catches: 9 Stumping: 1

    The Sri Lankan is still proving he still has what it takes to be competitive on the biggest stages. Smashed three half-centuries in his first four matches and although the runs dried towards the end, finished as eighth highest scorer. The 40-year-old was also handy behing the stumps, with nine catches.

    IMRAN TAHIR, MULTAN SULTANS

    Matches: 10
    Wickets: 13, Economy: 7.24

    Playing in his first-ever PSL, the South African rose to the occasion in the UAE. Despite being the joint-fourth best wicket-taker in the tournament, the leg-spinner became the third cricketer in PSL history to take a hat-trick against Quetta Gladiators and regularly took wickets as Multan Sultans missed out on the play-offs by one point.

    FAHEEM ASHRAF, ISLAMABAD UNITED

    Matches: 12
    Wickets: 18, Economy: 7.75

    A man who only made his T20I debut in the World Series last September, Ashraf is continuing to thrive. The 24-year-old medium-pacer was a constant threat for the batsmen and even bowled a maiden. Was rewarded with 18 scalps – the joint-highest of the competition but ironically hit the winning runs to clinch the title.

    WAHAB RIAZ, PESHAWAR ZALMI

    Matches: 13
    Wickets: 18, Economy: 6.90

    Peshawar Zalmi’s best bowler by some distance and joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament, Riaz was just unfortunate to settle for a runners-up medal. At a time, when a result was needed in a patchy campaign, the 32-year-old left-armer took matters in his own hands to take charge with the ball and deliver.

    USMAN KHAN, KARACHI KINGS

    Matches: 10
    Wickets: 16, Economy: 8.02

    Having returned from a back injury, the 24-year-old gave the opposing batsmen a taste of their own medicine on more than one occassion. With an array of bowling talent in the team with the likes of Mohammad Amir, Tymal Mills, Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim, Usman upstaged them all to finish as his side’s top wicket-taker in the competition.

    12TH MAN – SAMIT PATEL, ISLAMABAD UNITED

    Matches: 9
    Runs: 56, 100s: 0, 50s: 0
    Wickets: 13 , Economy: 6.96

    For someone who was only drafted into the squad after Asela Gunaratne opted out, the Englishman certainly played a big part for the newly-crowned champions. Runs were hard to come by but with the ball, he did the job even in fewer games than his rivals with 13 scalps.

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