The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has lived up to its billing so far, with several exciting contests served up already in the first phase.
None of the six franchises have been able to escape defeat in the opening rounds, although Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators are once again looking like the teams to beat.
Held entirely on Pakistan soil for the first time in its history, the PSL is seeing plenty of overseas participation this time around. As many as 35 overseas players are on show for the various franchises, with England being the most represented nationality.
As the league breaks for two days, we take a look at how the overseas stars have fared in the initial few matches.
ENGLAND
Star performers
Dawid Malan (Islamabad United)
The left-hander has looked in smashing touch in each of this three innings after starting off the tournament with a bang for Islamabad. He was unfortunate to end up on the losing side against Quetta Gladiators with his 40-ball 64 single-handedly dragging Islamabad to a respectable total.
He has followed it up with scores of 35 and 22 and is now the leading overseas run-scorer in the league this year with an average of over 60.
Liam Livingstone (Peshawar Zalmi)
It has been just two innings so far for the 26-year-old and he is yet to be dismissed. The right-hander’s blitz of 54 runs off just 29 deliveries nearly took Peshawar across the finish line while chasing a stiff target of 202 against Karachi Kings.
Being used down the order in the role of a finisher, the Englishman helped polish off the win against defending champions Quetta. Given the rollicking form he has shown, it will not be a surprise to see Livingstone moved higher up the order in the matches to come.
Tymal Mills (Quetta Gladiators)
The left-armed express pacer has turned into a journeyman T20 franchise cricketer over the years and he put his experience to good use in his two outings for Quetta. His two wickets against Karachi Kings, including that of Babar Azam, were instrumental in setting up a five-wicket win for the Gladiators.
While he couldn’t prevent a defeat for his side against Peshawar, Mills was still excellent with the ball with figures of 1-25 in his four overs. He earned the notable scalp of his compatriot Tom Banton in the process and should become a permanent fixture in Quetta’s playing XI going forward.
The duds
Tom Banton (Peshawar Zalmi)
Expectations are sky high from the England youngster in his maiden PSL stint, but it just hasn’t been the start he would have envisaged. His two outings with the bat have yielded just 16 runs for Peshawar and he has been dismissed to England pacers on both occasions.
There is no denying Banton’s talent and he is rightly considered as one of the most exciting potential stars of limited-overs cricket. It could simply be a case of coming to grips with the slower conditions on offer in Pakistan.
Moeen Ali (Multan Sultans)
While he has picked up two wickets with the ball in his two appearances, Multan are yet see the best of the England all-rounder. His economy-rate has been over 10 while he is yet to cross the 11-run mark in his two innings with the bat. He quickly needs to rediscover the form which saw him smash an 11-ball 39 against South Africa in the recent T20I series.
Others: While he has not really been his usual explosive self, Jason Roy is starting to look menacing. After being dismissed for a duck in his first outing against Islamabad, the Quetta opener roared back into form with a swashbuckling innings of 73 against Peshawar. Was unable to build on that in the latest fixture against Karachi where he was run-out for 17.
Liam Dawson and Chris Jordan have both been expensive with the ball, although the latter has still chipped in with three wickets for Karachi Kings. Meanwhile, James Vince has looked promising in his two outings for Multan, with 60 runs so far at a strike-rate of 150. Alex Hales has had just one opportunity so far for Karachi and was scratchy in his innings of 29. Veteran all-rounder Samit Patel, meanwhile, has leaked 30 runs in the two overs he has bowled for Lahore.
Phil Salt, Ravi Bopara, Lewis Gregory and youngster Dan Lawrence are yet to make an appearance for their respective franchises.
AUSTRALIA
Top performers
Ben Cutting (Quetta Gladiators)
It has been just one match but what an impact it has been from the veteran Australia all-rounder. The 33-year-old excelled with both bat and ball in Quetta’s thrilling three-wicket win over Islamabad United. While young Mohammad Hasnain took the plaudits with his four-wicket haul, Cutting’s 3-31 was equally important in restricting Islamabad to 168.
He then followed that up with an unbeaten cameo of 22 (12) with the bat which helped clinch victory for his side with nine balls to spare.
Chris Lynn (Lahore Qalandars)
While the Qalandars have endured a horrendous start to their campaign once again, Lynn has still been a bright spark with the bat. The Australian opener started off the tournament in scorching fashion against Multan Sultans and amassed 39 runs in just 19 deliveries before throwing his wicket away. Unfortunately, the right-hander was unable to repeat his exploits in what proved to be a thriller of a clash against Islamabad. Lahore definitely need more from Lynn if they are to turn around their fortunes.
The duds
Shane Watson (Quetta Gladiators)
Last season’s top run-scorer hasn’t exactly set the world alight so far despite a promising cameo in the win over Karachi. He started off poorly with an eight-run contribution against Peshawar with a miscued pull shot proving to be his downfall. Just when it looked like Watson was exploding into life with two sixes and two boundaries against Karachi, he was run-out while attempting to complete a second run.
The 38-year-old is capable of much more and will be itching to turn back the clock when the league resumes.
Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars)
It has not been a good week for the Australia wicketkeeper-batsman who was dropped from the playing XI after just one outing. A horrible mix-up with Mohammad Hafeez saw Dunk run-out for just three runs in the clash against Multan and that ultimately turned out to be his last contribution. With Dane Vilas also providing a wicketkeeping option for Lahore, Dunk might find chances hard to come by in the matches to come.
Others: Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed has picked up two wickets for Quetta Gladiators but has gone for more than 10 runs an over in both his appearances.
SOUTH AFRICA
Top performers
David Wiese (Lahore Qalandars)
The South African veteran has been one of the rare bright spots for Lahore in their dismal season. With a nine-ball 19 and figures of 1-31 from his four overs, Wiese did his part against Islamabad and was unfortunate to still end up on the losing side.
In his only other outing, Wiese failed to create an impact with the bat, though he did manage to put in another admirable display with the ball. His medium pace accounted for the important wicket of Multan Sultans skipper Shan Masood.
Duds
Dane Vilas (Lahore Qalandars)
Unlike Wiese, compatriot Vilas has been pretty ordinary in his two outings for Lahore. The wicketkeeper batsman has aggregated just 22 runs in his two innings for the Qalandars and these unconvincing displays could see him lose his spot in the coming games to Dunk.
Others: Cameron Delport has been solid without being spectacular in his two outings for Karachi Kings. The left-hander has managed to get decent starts in both innings while he has collected his runs with a strike-rate of 150. His part-time medium pace fetched the important wicket of Kamran Akmal is Karachi’s 10-run win over Peshawar Zalmi.
Meanwhile, Rilee Russouw had an excellent start to life with Multan Sultans with a match-winning knock of 32 against Lahore Qalandars. However, his dismissal for a duck in the loss to Islamabad United has meant that his fortunes have been mixed. His Multan team-mate and compatriot Imran Tahir has had a similar topsy-turvy campaign. The leg-spinner bagged two wickets against Lahore in a terrific spell but was then absolutely taken to the cleaners by Islamabad United’s batsmen.
Other Proteas stalwarts such as Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorious will only join their respective franchises after the completion of the ongoing T20I series against Australia.
NEW ZEALAND
There are just two Kiwis in the fray in the PSL and they both play for Islamabad United. Veteran wicketkeeper batsman Luke Ronchi has always been a reliable performer in the competition and it has been no different this time around. The right-hander was at his attacking best in the clash against Multan Sultans as he plundered his way to a 45-ball 74. The 38-year-old provided his side with a decent start against Quetta, although he had a game to forget against Lahore Qalandars.
His Islamabad team-mate Colin Munro has shown both extremes on the other hand. A duck, a dismissal for just two runs and a smashing match-winning half-century against Multan Sultans have been the left-hander’s three contributions so far. If he can gain some consistency over the coming matches, he could turn out to be a real asset for Islamabad.
WEST INDIES
While there are several players from Caribbean who have signed up for the PSL, most of them are currently away on international duty for the West Indies in Sri Lanka.
In their absence, Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy has been the most visible presence and the veteran all-rounder has already made some decent contributions. Awarded an honorary Pakistan citizenship recently, Sammy has overseen one victory and defeat apiece in his two matches so far. The 26-year-old picked up the crucial wicket of Sarfraz Ahmed in the win over Quetta while striking a 20-ball 30 in the narrow loss to Karachi.
The only other West Indies player to have featured so far is Chadwick Walton. The Karachi wicketkeeper batsman hasn’t really stood out in his two outings, with an unbeaten knock of nine being his most notable contribution.
Others: Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmon, Fabian Allen and Keemo Paul will join their respective teams after West Indies’ ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.
Promising Sri Lanka leg-spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna is yet to get a game for Lahore Qalandars.
