How the five PSL teams stack up
Islamabad United
Technically a sound selection with a good collection of specialists in most slots. The side will centre around the experienced hands of captain Misbah-ul-Haq, allrounders Shane Watson and Andre Russell, and pace spearhead Mohammad Irfan, with players like Umar Amin, Babar Azam and Ruman Raees for support.
The selection of Mohammad Sami and Khalid Latif, however, will invite debate. Latif has scored 8180 runs at 37.38 in 50-overs cricket, but a modest average of 23.17 across 84 T20 innings does not inspire too much confidence. Sami, 34, has spent more than 15 years in the international circuit, but hasn't lived up to potential. While pace is still his defining feature, his fragile temperament and inconsistency have let him down time and again.
Weakness
Andre Russell's presence in the middle order could be reassuring, but if he fails, there isn't much experience in Babar Azam, Sam Billings or Umar Amin. Brad Haddin is currently playing in the Big Bash League after his international retirement, but at 38, he isn't the force he once was.
Surprise pick
Most teams might have ignored him, but Islamabad created an opening for Kamran Ghulam, a rookie allrounder who bowls left-arm spin. He is expected to partner Samuel Badree, the West Indies legspinner.
First choice XI: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Sharjeel Khan, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Amin, 6 Sam Billings, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Kamran Ghulam, 9 Samuel Badree, 10 Mohammad Irfan, 11 Ruman Raees
Bench strength: Ammad Butt, Mohammad Sami, Khalid Latif, Brad Haddin, Imran Khalid
Supplementary picks: Ashar Zaidi, Saeed Ajmal, Hussain Talat, Umar Siddiq
Umar Akmal is part of a Lahore batting line-up that threatens to be among the PSL's most explosive © AFP
Karachi Kings
The platinum category was brimming with international stars, but Karachi surprisingly went for Sohail Tanvir at that stage. City loyalty was clearly not on their minds when they formulated a strategy for the drafts. That perhaps explains why only two player from the city - Sohail Khan and Mir Hamza - found a place in the squad.
While they tried to have all bases covered, the 16-man squad looks a little off-balance with a plethora of allrounders. Shoaib Malik has been named captain, and the side's bowling attack will be centred around Mohammad Amir, clearly the most celebrated pick.
Weakness
It seems, from the outside, that they have all their eggs in one basket. The plethora of allrounders may upset their team composition as they will have to mix and match their playing XI.
Surprise pick
Sohail Tanvir was a baffling selection. He hasn't been in the best of form and was even left out of a conditioning camp with the national team ahead of the T20 season. He managed to pick just one wicket at a bowling average of 110.0 for Sylhet Super Stars and scored 57 at 14.25 in the BPL. Therefore it isn't clear what inspired his selection.
First choice XI: 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Nauman Anwar, 3 Shoaib Malik (capt), 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim 7 Sohail Tanvir, 8 Mohammad Amir, 9 Sohail Khan, 10 Mir Hamza, 11 Usama Mir
Bench strength: Imad Wasim, Bilawal Bhatti, Nauman Anwar, Iftikhar Ahmed, Safiullah Bangash
Supplementary picks: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shahzaib Hasan, Fawad Alam
Lahore Qalandars
Potentially the most explosive batting side in the competition, Lahore have an array of flamboyant batsmen in Chris Gayle, Umar Akmal and Cameron Delport, who can win them matches single-handedly on a given day. There is depth too, in case of a top-order wobble, with Mohammad Rizwan and Dwayne Bravo to follow.
Weakness
Lahore possess the most inexperienced bowling line up in the tournament, with Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman looking like their most important signing in that department. Hammad Azam and Yasir Shah - who is yet to fully translate his successes in the longer format into limited-overs cricket - will offer support with the ball.
Surprise pick
Pakistan's ODI captain Azhar Ali might not seem an attractive T20 proposition, but he has not only made the Lahore line-up but is also likely to captain it. Azhar was originally in the Diamond category but remained unpicked, and was relegated twice, to the Gold and Silver categories, before Lahore eventually picked him.
First choice XI: 1 Chris Gayle 2 Cameron Delport 3 Azhar Ali 4 Umar Akmal 5 Dwayne Bravo 6 Mohammad Rizwan 7 Hammad Azam 8 Yasir Shah 9 Mustafizur Rahman 10 Zafar Gohar 11 Zia ul Haq
Bench strength: Adnan Rasool, Naved Yasin, Zohaib Khan, Kevon Cooper, Sohaib Maqsood
Supplementary picks: Imran Butt, Ehsan Adil, Mukhtar Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq
Peshawar will welcome Afridi's charisma and inspirational leadership, but might have reason to worry about his form © AFP
Peshawar Zalmi
The most charismatic side with Shahid Afridi, the hottest pick in the draft. Peshawar paid Islamabad the hefty amount of £50,294.85 for the right to the first turn in the auction, and with it a chance to pic£7.38k Afridi. The squad is a decent one, with a good mix of players from the region as well as Pakistan stars such as Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hafeez, and international stars like Darren Sammy.
Weakness
Afridi's form is a bit of a worry. Peshawar's likely captain is in a bit of a slump at the moment, and the World T20 will be his last international tournament.
Surprise pick
A 35-year old Abdur Rehman was the forgotten man of Pakistan cricket. He last played for Pakistan in August 2014, and his last game for them in the T20 format came as far back as November 2013. His selection may have raised eyebrows but his utility as a left-arm spinner and his enormous experience could prove valuable to Peshawar's spin department, perhaps their weakest link.
First Choice XI: 1 Kamran Akmal, 2 Tamim Iqbal, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Darren Sammy, 5 Musadiq Ahmed, 6 Shahid Yousuf, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10, Abdur Rehman, 11 Junaid Khan
Bench strength: Jim Allenby, Aamer Yamin, Dawid Malan, Imran Khan Jr, Hasan Ali
Supplementary picks: Mohammad Asghar, Brad Hodge, Israrullah, Taj Wali
Quetta Gladiators
Quetta was one of the more economical franchises, having been picked up for million. One of their first big recruits was Kevin Pietersen, an icon player. They then snapped up Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad to bolster the batting. The bowling unit packs a punch with the presence of Umar Gul and Zulfiqar Babar. Interestingly, only one local player - Bismillah Khan - was picked, but it is highly unlikely that he will get too many games.
Weakness The absence of an out-and-out fast bowler could be one area where they could feel short-changed, although Gul will pose a threat if fully fit. But given his injury-prone ways, the side will bank on their batsmen more.
Surprise pick Akbar-ur-Rehman is smart pick from the domestic circuit. He has a decent record with three one-day hundred and a first-class double century. His ability to bowl useful seam-ups makes him a full package.
First choice XI: 1. Ahmed Shahzad 2. Luke Wright 3. Kevin Pietersen 4. Elton Chigumbura, 5. Sarfraz Ahmed (capt) 6. Saad Nasim 7. Akbar-ur-Rehman 8. Jason Holder 9. Anwar Ali 10. Zulfiqar Babar 11. Umar Gul
Bench strength: Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Nabi, Bilal Asif, Asad Shafiq, Bismillah Khan
Supplementary picks: Kumar Sangakkara, Aizaz Cheema, Rameez Raja Jnr
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent. @kalson
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
More from the Web
Ultra Luxury Living in New York, Hawaii, and Miami Beach [See Listings]Mansion Global by Dow Jones
Real Estate Experts Agree: This Is Where to Live in New York Right Now [Exclusive Listings]Mansion Global by Dow Jones
9 Free Business Productivity Tools For StartupsEarly To Rise
5 Bootstrapping Strategies Every Startup Should Be UsingUnusual Business Ideas That Work
How one man learned 9 languagesBabbel
Recommended by
Comments have now been closed for this article
LATEST
ALL 65
OLDEST
JAVIAR87 ON DECEMBER 26, 2015, 11:21 GMT
Wish we had a tournament where 4 Asia Countries players would play in Asian Premier League (APL). Only then we can rule (Asia Block) the cricketing world truly. All the matches would be playing in 4 countries. What a league that would be ! Pakistan has bouncy pitch, India has bouncy and spin, Bangladesh pitch is a tricky one and Sri Lanka also has spin friendly pitch. Would have been a big tournament every year ! each countries' Winner and Runner Up (IPL, BPL, PSL, SPLP) so 8 teams ! That would be amazing !
KARACHIBOI ON DECEMBER 26, 2015, 5:41 GMT
Why would I want to support a Karachi team that doesn't have any karachiite in it,Quetta is the team for me.cmon Sarfaraz and KP!!
JAHHHAN ON DECEMBER 25, 2015, 15:22 GMT
Save my name and see how correct I am. Man of the Tournament: Shahid Afridi Best Bowler: Mustafeez ur Rahman or Muhammad Amir (Apology to BD supporters for misspelling) Best Batsman: Kamran Akmal or Shoaib Malik Most economical bowler: Immad Wasim Best fielder Yasir Shah or Ummar Akmal
LIKEINTCRICKET ON DECEMBER 25, 2015, 13:08 GMT
Karachi seems to be weakest with no local players to inspire the local fans. Most of the players in all the sides are already passed their primes and their purpose is to make money from anywhere. Missing of fresh and current exciting cricketers from the world is obvious. I still wish them all the best though I really doubt any success for them.
NURAIZ ON DECEMBER 25, 2015, 12:41 GMT
Best of luck to Pakistani Fans and PSL. From BD ;)
RJMAAHII ON DECEMBER 24, 2015, 14:12 GMT
Cant wait Febraury..just bring it on...
ZAIN_KHAN1996 ON DECEMBER 24, 2015, 12:15 GMT
JOHNTHEKIWI. Thank you John for the support. Even as a Bangladeshi, I hope the tournament goes well for Pakistan. It's good for the game to have teams like Pakistan, WI at their best. All the best to your Kiwi side.
AMBALAL ON DECEMBER 24, 2015, 11:45 GMT
The true superstar of present Pakistan cricket Sarfaraz has been picked up in Top platinum category and will also lead.A brave decision which only a private franchise can take. Good luck to Queetta and Safaraz
AMINBILL ON DECEMBER 24, 2015, 9:58 GMT
I think Umar Farook haven't watched last eng vs pak series. Afridi is only consistent best player for pakistan throughout the series.
WAHID59 ON DECEMBER 24, 2015, 7:57 GMT
Umar Farooq: Doesn't Tamim Iqbal count as an International star? While analyzing Peshawar Zalmi you could've mentioned him after Sammy.
