Osman Samiuddin and Paul Radley give you their five players to watch in the inaugural Pakistan Super League, which begins in Dubai on Thursday, February 4.
Osman Samiuddin’s five players to watch out for
Mohammed Amir (Karachi Kings)
Amir’s form has been nothing short of sensational since his return to top-flight cricket. Though he was in the Gold category, he was always going to be one of the most-eagerly awaited picks. Karachi, the most expensive franchise, had a day of underwhelming picks, but grabbing Amir has more than made up for it.
Shahid Afridi (Peshawar Zalmis)
The very first pick of first PSL draft was actually the result of a trade between Islamabad and Peshawar. The fact that Islamabad chose to trade confirms the decline in Afridi’s skills, but as an “Icon” figure to build a franchise around there are few better choices. And as a Pathan, it was almost necessary that Peshawar get him.
Kevin Pietersen (Quetta Gladiators)
The prospect of Pietersen being re-united with former England coach and eventual nemesis Andy Flower was delicious. Alas it was not to be as he went to Quetta in the day’s fourth pick. Keep an eye on the number of selfies he is a part of with teammate and renowned selfie-taker, Ahmed Shahzad.
Mohammed Irfan (Islamabad United)
Of all Pakistan’s current fast bowlers, Irfan remains strangely under-valued. It is strange because he is so adept at the shorter forms of the game. It is especially handy because the franchise has, as director of cricket, the greatest left-arm fast bowler of all time, Wasim Akram. Impossible to imagine that Irfan, and Islamabad, do not benefit as a result.
Darren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi)
Sammy is probably the least flamboyant and colourful of the big-name West Indian Twenty20 players. But he was the captain who led them to the World Twenty20 title in 2012. His all-round skills do not lose out much in comparison, for example, to the likes of Dwayne Bravo.
Read more:
Islamabad United’s promising Rumman Raees ready to springboard PSL T20 into Pakistan place
Pakistan Super League: The National’s preview coverage and reporting
Teams and squads for Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2016
Paul Radley’s five players to watch
Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings)
A relatively late-bloomer by Pakistan cricket standards, having only just begun to establish himself in the national limited-overs side nearly a decade after being the outstanding player of a vintage Under 19 team. The Wales-born, left-handed allrounder is miserly with the ball, and simultaneously creative and powerful with the bat. He could be a match-winner with both for Karachi Kings.
Shane Watson (Islamabad United)
Worldly, well credentialled, and there is the prospect of the Australian opener reprising his epic battle with Wahab Riaz from last year’s 50-over World Cup. “It will be good fun to reunite with Wahab,” Watson said. “That brings back incredible memories from the World Cup of Wahab bowling very fast, very consistently. He is a very skilled fast bowler.”
Luke Wright (Quetta Gladiators)
Out of the reckoning for national selection by England, despite being a highly successful Twenty20 globetrotter. Regularly starred in front of 80,000 people in Melbourne in the Big Bash League last month. Wright’s cause might not be championed quite so publicly as his Quetta teammate, Kevin Pietersen, but he can play a bit, too.
Zafar Gohar (Lahore Qalanders)
Wise beyond his years when it comes to knowing how to play in UAE conditions. The feisty left-arm spinner has already tasted a variety of successes on these shores, despite having only just turned 21. He guided Pakistan to the final of the 2015 Under 19 World Cup in Dubai, played domestic cricket in Sharjah, and made his ODI debut against England at the same ground in November.
Shaun Tait (Peshawar Zalmi)
A third-choice selection, after Chris Jordan, and his first replacement Liam Plunkett, were called up to play for England instead. That said, an on-form Shaun Tait is more frightening than either of those two. And Australia seem to think he has still got it, having recalled him to their limited-overs side last month, for the first time since 2011.
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