PSL 2020: Key local, overseas and young players including Naseem Shah and Tom Banton

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  • The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) gets under way on Thursday in Karachi with defending champions Quetta Gladiators taking on two-time winners Islamabad United in the tournament opener.

    Being held entirely on Pakistan soil for the first time in its history, the 2020 edition of the PSL promises to be the biggest one just yet. Over the last four years, the tournament has thrown up some exciting young talent for Pakistan and the upcoming edition promises to be no different. Add in the array of overseas stars who have signed up for the league this time, the PSL is bound to get pulses racing.

    Ahead of the latest edition, we look at key local, overseas and young players to watch out for in the six respective franchises.

    ISLAMABAD UNITED

    Local player – Shadab Khan

    Shadab (11)

    At 21, Shadab Khan has become the youngest captain in PSL history after taking over the reins from Mohammed Sami. It was the PSL which launched young Shadab into the limelight in 2016, with the leg-spinner forcing his way into the Pakistan squad subsequently.

    Now an established member for both club and country, Shadab will look to lead Islamabad from the front this year. He has been with the franchise from the very start and his four overs with the ball will be crucial. With an overall T20 economy-rate of just 6.8 after 114 matches, the right-armed spinner is one the wiliest customers. He is a handy batsman to have as well down the order, and can strike it big in the latter overs.

    Young Player – Muhammad Musa Khan

    musa

    It will be a big season for teenager Muhammad Musa as he gets ready for his second PSL campaign with Islamabad. The 19-year-old turned heads with his lively pace in the 2019 edition, although his wavering accuracy was a point of concern.

    Nevertheless, the youngster’s promise was recognised by Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq as he picked him for the side’s tour of Australia. Ultimately, it turned out to be a Test debut to forget for Musa in Adelaide with the pacer leaking 114 runs at a rate of almost six an over.

    There is no doubt that the right-armer can be a vital asset for his side if he gets his radar right and that will be what Islamabad United will try to correct in the coming edition.

    Overseas player – Dawid Malan

    malan

    That a player of Dawid Malan’s calibre is considered a luxury speaks volume about England’s current limited-overs prowess. The left-hander has been able to make just 10 T20 appearances for his country over the years, but has managed to impress nearly every time with an overall average of 52.11.

    He was in sensational form in the T20 series against New Zealand last year where he smashed a blistering century along with a fifty. Malan showed his T20 chops in subcontinental conditions in the recently held Bangladesh Premier League where he scored 444 runs with the help of a century and three fifties. His menacing form bodes well for Islamabad’s chances.

    KARACHI KINGS

    Local player – Babar Azam

    Babar

    It is hard to look past Pakistan skipper Babar Azam when it comes to the local talent at Karachi’s disposal. The No1 ranked T20I batsman in the world has been in smashing form in the recent Tests held on Pakistan soil, and he will look to translate that into the shorter version when he pads up for the PSL.

    The 25-year-old has blossomed into the complete batsman with no glaring weakness in his game and he will be the prized scalp for every opposition who line up against Karachi. In a total of 129 T20 innings, Babar has scored 50 runs or more on 38 occasions and he will look to hold anchor for the Karachi Kings every time he walks out to bat.

    Young player – Umer Khan

    umer

    The 20-year-old took the PSL by storm last year and deservedly bagged the Emerging Player of the Year award. Making his first foray in the competition, young Umer grabbed 15 wickets in 11 appearances including notable scalps of batting heavyweights such as AB de Villiers.

    The left-armed orthodox spinner has a calm head on his shoulders and does not seem fazed by the big occasion. It is actually surprising that he hasn’t earned a single Pakistan T20 call-up since his PSL 2019 exploits. He has a chance to send Misbah a reminder of his talents with the upcoming edition, although it will take some doing to replicate his displays in 2019.

    Overseas player – Alex Hales

    Alex-Hales

    Having been axed from the England squad on the eve of the 2019 World Cup for his use of recreational drugs, Alex Hales has been serving his international banishment with stints in overseas franchise leagues.

    The explosive opener’s talents, especially in the T20 format, are well known and he will be itching to make a big statement in the upcoming PSL. After a sedate start in the recent Big Bash League, Hales turned on the style for Sydney Thunder by plundering 576 runs at a strike-rate of nearly 150 in the competition.

    England skipper Eoin Morgan has kept the doors open for a potential Hales comeback in the future, and the right-hander will want to make all the right noises to push for an England recall.

    LAHORE QALANDARS

    Local player – Haris Rauf

    Haris Rauf

    It has been a fairytale couple of months for Haris Rauf, with the pacer scorching the BBL with his pace and accuracy before earning a Pakistan T20 debut. Discovered by a talent hunt program conducted by the Qalandars, Rauf did not have a BBL contract when he went down to Tasmania to play grade cricket.

    It didn’t take too long for him to catch the eye of a franchise and soon he was wearing the colours of Melbourne Stars. Touching speeds of around 150kph, the fast bowler picked up 20 wickets in the competition at an economy-rate of just over seven runs an over. Fresh from his debut against Bangladesh, Rauf will be the main man with the ball for Lahore in the upcoming edition.

    Young player – Shaheen Afridi

    Shaheen (5)

    It seems odd to put Shaheen Afridi in this category given the fact that he has been a Pakistan regular for almost two years now. Yet, the left-armed pacer is still only 19.

    Now a mainstay in all three formats for his country, the best of young Afridi is frighteningly yet to come. He already seems to have immaculate control over his lines and lengths and can move the ball both ways at a decent pace.

    His pace combination with Rauf should be a joy to watch in the upcoming edition and could be the factor which finally propels perennial underachievers Lahore.

    Overseas player – Chris Lynn

    Chris Lynn

    The Australia opener has been out of favour with the national team for the past year and it will be a chance for him to thrust himself back into contention ahead of the T20 World Cup on home soil.

    Lynn has been a white-ball specialist for a long time now and is considered to be one of the most explosive openers in franchise T20 circuit. He was in pristine touch in the Abu Dhabi T10 League where he came agonisingly close to becoming the first T10 centurion.

    While his recent BBL campaign wasn’t the most inspiring, the right-hander is always capable of extreme brilliance whenever he picks up the bat.

    MULTAN SULTANS

    Local player – Shahid Afridi

    Afridi1

    Set to turn 40 on March 1, the senior Afridi is showing no signs of stopping any time soon. Still the biggest name in the Multan Sultans squad, the all-rounder will hold the key to their fortunes. More than the bat, it will be Afridi’s bowling skills that Multan will bank on, with the leg-spinner moulding himself into one of the finest limited-overs bowlers in the past two decades.

    Of course, the occasional Afridi blitz with the bat will always be welcome for Multan and you can be sure for it to happen at some point. With 335 scalps overall in the T20 format at an economy-rate of just 6.69, Afridi’s four overs could turn out to be make or break for Multan’s fortunes.

    Young player – Mohammad Ilyas

    Ilyas

    While Pakistan’s young guns continue to make waves in the fast-bowling department, Mohammad Ilyas will be desperate to add his name to the fray. The 20-year-old pacer made his PSL debut last year and clocked some impressive speeds in his limited appearances.

    He will look to take it up a notch in the upcoming edition as he looks to break into the big league and he is definitely one to keep an eye out for. Multan have an array of left-armed pacers in their roster and Ilyas’ right-arm could provide the perfect balance to the fast bowling department.

    Overseas player – Moeen Ali

    MoeenAli (1)

    The England all-rounder may no longer be a part of the Test set-up due to a self imposed exile, but he remains one of the best utility players when it comes to the shorter formats. His off-spin is more than handy, and usually brings about some important breakthroughs while also being economical. With the bat, he is an excellent timer of the ball who is particularly good against spin bowling.

    These characteristics should make him a big hit on Pakistan soil and the conditions should work in his favour with both bat and ball. His recent displays for England in South Africa, including an 11-ball 39 in Durban will have Multan licking their lips in anticipation.

    PESHAWAR ZALMI

    Local player – Hasan Ali

    Hasan (6)

    Like Shadab, Hasan Ali shot into the limelight on the back of his 2016 PSL displays and before long, the pacer was taking international cricket by storm.

    The 24 appearances it took for him to claim 50 ODI wickets is the best by any Pakistan bowler in history and he played a starring role in the team’s triumph in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. However, while Ali’s rise was nothing short of meteoric, his fall from grace has been equally rapid with injuries and poor form derailing his international career of late.

    Back to his original breeding ground, Hasan Ali will look to turn back the clock for Peshawar and rekindle the fire which made his such a big hit in the first place.

    Young player – Aamir Ali

    Fresh from a promising campaign in the 2020 U19 World Cup for Pakistan, Aamir Ali could turn out to be an unlikely trump card for Peshawar. The left-armed orthodox spinner is still only 17 and has already made his first-class debut for Sindh province.

    In Ali and Mohammad Mohsin, Zalmi have two promising youngsters who can spin the ball and one of them is likely to get an extended run in the playing XI.

    Overseas player – Tom Banton

    Banton

    Why Tom Banton is considered one of the hottest young properties in cricket at the moment was seen in the BBL when he smashed five sixes in a row for Brisbane Heat against Sydney Thunder.

    The 21-year-old Englishman had a breakout season for Somerset domestically last year and was unsurprisingly bestowed with the PCA Young Player of the Year award subsequently. He is already becoming one of the most sought after names in the T20 franchise league circuit and has fetched a hefty sum from Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of his IPL debut next month.

    It will be the PSL, though, who get an earlier taste of his unconventional style which includes some hockey inspired reverse scoops.

    QUETTA GLADIATORS

    Local player – Sarfraz Ahmed

    Sarfraz

    It wasn’t too long ago when Sarfraz Ahmed was considered to be the king of Pakistan after leading the team to the most unexpected of triumphs in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Sarfraz captained Pakistan to an incredible streak in the T20I format which saw them establish themselves as the No1 ranked team in the world.

    However, poor individual form has cost the wicketkeeper batsman dear and he is no longer a part of the Pakistan international set-up. Back in the domestic grind, Sarfraz already signalled his intentions to push for a comeback by slamming a double-ton in the Quaid-e-Azam first-class competition, and he will want to prove another point when he takes the reins of defending champions Quetta once again.

    Young player – Naseem Shah

    naseem shah

    The teenager needs no introduction after becoming the youngest player to claim a Test hat-trick earlier this month. The 17-year-old is capable of bowling at searing pace and has already displayed some exceptional control over it in his first-class cricket career and Test displays for Pakistan.

    The sky seems to be the limit for young Shah and Quetta will consider themselves lucky to get their hands on his signature ahead of his PSL debut.

    Overseas player – Jason Roy

    0218 Jason Roy

    Shane Watson was the star man for Quetta last year and the Aussie veteran is back once again to aid his side’s title defence. However, it could be England’s Jason Roy who holds the key for the Gladiators with belligerent style of batting.

    The opener’s career T20 strike-rate is nearing 150 and he looked in devastating touch in the recently concluded series between South Africa and England. Roy has four centuries and 33 fifties to his name in the T20 format and Quetta will be made to not utilise his prowess at the top of the order.

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