PSL 2022: squads, fixtures, health protocols and how to watch matches in UAE

The seventh edition of Pakistan's premier T20 league will be held in Karachi and Lahore

Imran Tahir picked up three wickets as Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL 2021 final in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy PSL

Peshawar Zalmi celebrate the fall of a Multan Sultans wicket in the PSL final on Thursday, June 24. Courtesy PSL

Mohammed Rizwan gave Multan Sultans a solid start in the PSL 2021 final. Courtesy PSL

Shan Masood was in good touch for Multan Sultans. Courtesy PSL

Peshawar Zalmi's Wahab Riaz, right, struggled for control. Courtesy PSL

Multan Sultans added 68 for the opening wicket in the PSL 2021 final. Courtesy PSL

Multan posted 206-4 with Rilee Rossouw and Sohaib Maqsood hitting fifties.. Courtesy PSL

Rilee Rossouw gives an on-field interview. Courtesy PSL

Multan Sultans celebrate the first Peshawar Zalmi wicket. Courtesy PSL

Imran Khan celebrates after dismissing Kamran Akmal. Courtesy PSL

The seventh season of the Pakistan Super League commences on Thursday, with a mixture of optimism and fear of the unknown.

First, the good news. This edition of the PSL will see the ICC cricketer of the year, the T20 and the ODI batsmen of 2021 all competing together.

Last year was an unprecedented success for Pakistan in white-ball cricket and that was reflected in the International Cricket Council's annual awards, where left-arm pacer Shahen Afridi was selected as the best men's player of the year, while captain Babar Azam was picked as the ODI cricketer and wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan the T20 player of the year.

All three will be in action during PSL 2022, which commences on January 27 in Karachi and ends on February 27 in Lahore.

Now for the worrisome bit. The continuing pandemic means there is a high probability of positive cases and even an outbreak. The Pakistan Cricket Board had formed a comprehensive protocol to ensure the PSL is held and completed within the 30 days as any postponement will almost certainly lead to the league's cancellation because the international calendar does not have any other slots to ensure player availability.

Still, expectations are high with the Pakistan board determined to complete the tournament, stating that teams need only 13 players who are Covid negative to compete.

Last year, the PSL was postponed after a coronavirus outbreak and was concluded in Abu Dhabi, with Multan Sultans defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs to lift the title.

Tournament dates and venues

PSL 2022 begins at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday, January 27, with the first 15 matches to be held at the venue. The tournament then moves to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore which will hold the remainder of the matches, including the final on February 27.

What are the health and safety guidelines?

It's quite comprehensive. There will be dedicated bio-bubbles with players, support staff, officials, broadcast crew, and all essential members such as hotel staff are separated in a way that any positive case does not immediately spread throughout the league — as had happened in previous tournaments. Teams have 20 players on their roster with an additional pool of players to draw from, in case their first picks are sidelined.

Players will be tested regularly during the tournament. In the event of an outbreak, the tournament will be halted for seven days, the bio-bubbles will be reset and the remaining fixtures completed via double headers.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was named the ICC men's cricketer of 2021. He became the youngest recipient of the award at 21. AP

Shaheen Afridi decimated India's top order during 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Reuters

Pakistan players celebrate with Shaheen Afridi after the dismissal of India's KL Rahul during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. AP

Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia captain Aaron Finch during the T20 World Cup semi-final in Dubai. AFP

Shaheen Afridi has become a star in a short period. AP

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has emerged as the leading bowler in the world across formats and leagues. AP

What's new this season?

There are a few changes on the field. Pakistan captain Babar has been named Karachi Kings' captain, taking over from Imad Wasim who guided them to the 2020 title. Also, veteran star Shahid Afridi will represent Quetta Gladiators in what will be his farewell PSL appearance after representing Multan Sultan last year.

There's more. Fielding sides will be punished for maintaining slow over rates. If they fail to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled time, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings. Also, stipulations regarding number of local and overseas players in a team will be removed in case the available pool of players shrinks due to a virus outbreak.

Can I watch matches in UAE?

Etisalat subscribers can watch the PSL matches this season. Also, viewers can catch the live action online through tapmad TV, who will be streaming the matches.

Squads:

Karachi Kings Babar Azam (c), Amir Yamin, Chris Jordan, Imad Wasim, Joe Clarke, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Amir, Jordan Thompson, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Nabi, Rohail Nazir, Muhammad Imran, Qasim Akram, Romario Shepherd, Faisal Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sharjeel Khan, Talha Ahsan, Tom Abell, Umaid Asif.

Islamabad United Shadab Khan (c), Alex Hales, Asif Ali, Ather Mehmood, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Azam Khan, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Colin Munro, Marchant De Lange, Mohammad Akhlaq, Musa Khan, Paul Stirling, Mubasir Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan, Zafar Gohar, Zeeshan Zameer.

Multan Sultans Mohammad Rizwan (c), Abbas Afridi, Amir Azmat, Anwar Ali, Asif Afridi, Blessing Muzarabani, David Willey, Ihsanullah, Imran Khan Snr, Imran Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Odean Smith, Rilee Rossouw, Rizwan Hussain, Rovman Powell, Rumman Raees, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Tim David.

Peshawar Zalmi Wahab Riaz (c), Aarish Ali Khan, Arshad Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Hazratullah Zazai, Saqib Mahmood, Hussain Talat, Ben Cutting, Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Umar, Salman Irshad, Liam Livingstone, Sameen Gul, Sherfane Rutherford, Sirajuddin, Sohail Khan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Usman Qadir.

Lahore Qalandars Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdullah Shafiq, Phil Salt, Akif Javed, Dawid Wiese, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Daniyal, Dean Foxcroft, Haris Rauf, Harry Brook, Fakhar Zaman, Imran Randhawa, Kamran Ghulam, Maaz Khan, Rashid Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun, Sohail Akhtar, Zaman Khan, Zeeshan Ashraf.

Quetta Gladiators Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Ahsan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Ben Duckett, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Dan Lawrence, Ghulam Mudassar, Iftikhar Ahmed, James Faulkner, James Vince, Jason Roy, Khurram Shehzad, Muhammad Ashar Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal.

PSL 2021 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT: 1. Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) - A model of consistency. Karachi’s title defence might have ended at the first knockout phase, but Babar still made seven half-centuries at an average of 69.25. All photos courtesy of Pakistan Super League

2. Hazratullah Zazai (Peshawar Zalmi) - To say his arrival has given Peshawar’s title challenge fresh impetus understates the point. Three matchwinning performances in his first four matches has taken them to the final.

3. Usman Khawaja (Islamabad United) - Rarely spotted on the franchise circuit outside of Australia, but advertised his wares to potential employers with a fine return in Abu Dhabi, especially via the century he made.

4. Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans) - He has been in belligerent form since arriving in the UAE, and played a key role in the qualifier playoff against Islamabad in blistering heat.

5. Shoaib Malik (Peshawar Zalmi) - Will be 40 on his next birthday, yet remains both svelte and influential, despite his build up to this tournament amounting to not much more than a few net sessions at an understated academy near Dubai airport.

6. Mohammed Rizwan (Multan Sultans) - Justified Multan’s late decision to swap captains, despite Shan Masood guiding them to the top of the table last year, as they reached the final this time round.

7. Rashid Khan (Lahore Qalandars) - Harsh that the Afghan great was deprived a place in the knockout stage. Eleven wickets in eight games for Lahore, and an economy rate of 5.46. Standard Rashid Khan fare.

8. Hasan Ali (Islamabad United) - The thriftiest bowler in the side who dominated the league phase, and he nearly earned them a place in the final with his extraordinary batting cameo in the last knockout match.

9. Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans) - Particularly outstanding once the tournament decamped to UAE, which was maybe no surprise given he has been resident in the country for much of this year.

10. Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) - How Lahore managed to miss out on the knockout stage is a mystery given the strength of their bowling. Shaheen took 16 wickets in 10 games.

11. Shahnawaz Dahani, right, (Multan Sultans) - Unquestionably the find of the tournament. Good pace, a load of wickets, and a ready smile marked him out as a new star.

Fixtures

Thursday, Jan 27 — 6pm (UAE time): Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, National Stadium, Karachi

Friday, Jan 28 — 6pm: Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, National Stadium, Karachi

Saturday, Jan 29 — 1pm: Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi; 6pm: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, Karachi

Sunday, Jan 30 — 1pm: Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Karachi; 6pm: Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi

Monday, Jan 31 — 6pm: Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Karachi

Tuesday, Feb 1 — 6pm: Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Karachi

Wednesday, Feb 2 — 6pm: Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi

Thursday, Feb 3 — 6pm: Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, Karachi

Friday, Feb 4 — 6pm: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi

Saturday, Feb 5 — 1pm: Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi; 6pm: Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Karachi

Sunday, Feb 6 — 6pm: Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, Karachi

Monday, Feb 7 — 6pm: Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, Karachi

Thursday, Feb 10 — 6pm: Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Friday, Feb 11 — 6pm: Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Lahore

Saturday, Feb 12 — 6pm: Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore

Sunday, Feb 13 — 1pm: Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Lahore; 6pm: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore

Monday, Feb 14 — 6pm: Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Lahore

Tuesday, Feb 15 — 6pm: Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore

Wednesday, Feb 16 — 6pm: Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Lahore

Thursday, Feb 17 — 6pm: Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore

Friday, Feb 18 — 2pm: Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore; 7pm: Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Lahore

Saturday, Feb 19 — 6pm: Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Lahore

Sunday, Feb 20 — 1pm: Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Lahore; 6pm: Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Lahore

Monday, Feb 21 — 6pm: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore

Wednesday, Feb 23 — 6pm: Qualifier, Lahore

Thursday, Feb 24 — 6pm: Eliminator 1, Lahore

Friday, Feb 25 — 6pm: Eliminator 2, Lahore

Sunday, Feb 27 — 6pm: Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore