DEFENDING CHAMPIONS PESHAWAR NOT WILLING TO PUT A FOOT WRONG IN OPENER AGAINST SULTANS
he curtains go up today on the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Stadium with a host of the star players, who have transformed Twenty20 format into the most exciting form of the game, ready for action.
It will be a clash of the ‘sixers’ this time with the entry of Multan Sultans as the new sixth team. The reputation of this tournament has skyrocketed after Pakistan lifted the Champions Trophy last year, thanks to the audacious display of some of the youngsters that surfaced through this league. The tournament is bound to throw up more youngsters this year too with many amazingly talented local players picked up by talent-spotters for different teams from some of the remotest areas of Pakistan.
Though defending champions Peshawar Zalmi’s captain Darren Sammy jokingly remarked during the unveiling of the trophy that “all teams are coming for my title”, it remains a fact. All six teams have with such top class players in their ranks it is hard to pick the best or weakest from among the lot.
Peshawar has got the right players to defend their title, but a lot will depend on their opening match against debutants Multan Sultans today. What makes their challenge tough is the fact that Multan, led by Shoaib Malek, is a formidable team with players like Kieron Pollard, Kumar Sangakkara, Imran Tahir, Darren Bravo and three fine pacers in Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Khan.
Peshawar is filled with Pakistan’s star players like Kamran Akmal, who is the tournament’s highest scorer, the experienced Mohammad Hafeez, highest wicket-taker in Wahab Riaz and young Hasan Ali. As if that is not enough, they also have West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, Bangladesh stars Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hassan.
Like the above two teams, the remaining four outfits are also packed with experienced players who have shown their calibre in international cricket. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmad, who leads two-time finalists Quetta Gladiators, are hoping to be third time lucky. They have explosive batsmen like Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, Jason Roy, Rilee Rossouw and Irfan and Junaid Carlos Brathwaite — backed by Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq. In the first practice match held at ICC Academy they even defeated champions Peshawar.
Major change
Islamabad United, first-time winners of the PSL are led by Misbah-ul-Haq, the most experienced among Pakistan captains. The team has undergone a major change with their coach Wasim Akram leaving and joining Multan Sultans. However, they have bounced back by appointing another great pacer in Waqar Younis as their coach. Though they have specialists like J.P. Duminy, Andre Russell and Samuel Badree, they also have the young and talented Pakistan players Ruman Raees and Shadab Khan in the squad.
Lahore Qalandars, led by Brendon McCullum, are determined to produce their best this year. The team is coached by Aaqib Javed, who as former UAE national team coach knows the conditions here very well, and has an explosive bunch of players including Fakhar Zaman, Yasir Shah, Umar Akmal, Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn in the squad. Many expect this squad to turn the tables on the favourites.
Karachi Kings, led by young Imad Wasim, is a squad made up of match-winners including ‘Boom Boom’ Shahid Afridi. They also have a potent pace attack in Mohammad Amir, Australian veteran Mitchell Johnson, England’s fine all-rounder Ravi Bopara and consistent Babar Azam.
So at the PSL gets underway, all we can say is let the fireworks begin ...
February 22, Dubai (all times UAE): 9pm: February 23, Dubai: 3.30pm: 8pm: February 24, Dubai: 3.30pm: 8pm: February 25, Dubai: 3.30pm: 8pm: February 26, Dubai: 8pm: February 28, Sharjah: 8pm: March 1, Sharjah: 8pm: March 2, Sharjah: 3.30pm:
Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans
Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars
Islamabad Utd vs Peshawar Zalmi Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars
Multan Sultans vs Islamabad Utd Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi
Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Islamabad Utd vs Quetta Gladiators Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi
Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings 8pm: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United
March 3, Sharjah: 3.30pm: 8pm: March 4, Sharjah: 8pm: March 6, Dubai: 8pm: March 7, Dubai: 8pm: March 8, Dubai: 3.30pm:
Multan Sultans vs Quetta Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars
Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Islamabad vs Lahore Qalandars Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators
March 9, Dubai: 3.30pm:
Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United
8pm: March 10, Dubai: 3.30pm: 8pm: March 11, Dubai: 8pm: March 13, Sharjah: 8pm: March 14, Sharjah: 8pm: March 15, Sharjah: 3.30pm: 8pm:
Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators
Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars
Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United
March 16, Sharjah: 3.30pm:
Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings
8pm: March 18, Dubai: 8pm: March 20, Lahore: Eliminator 1: March 21, Lahore: Eliminator 2:
Qualifier: Team 1 vs Team 2 Loser Team 3 vs Team 4 Eliminator 1 Winner vs Qualifier
March 25, Karachi: Final:
Qualifier winner vs Eliminator 2 winner