Pakistan Super League: The team of the tournament

The stars that shone before pandemic stopped play

1 Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) T20 cricket’s pre-eminent batsman is not a bludgeoner, but an aesthete. His shot making is so crisp, it takes the breath away. The season’s leading run-scorer. AP

2 Chris Lynn (Lahore Qalandars) Spoke in Abu Dhabi in November about looking forward to touring Pakistan for the first time. Judged on the way he played, he looked like he loved it. AFP

3 Shan Masood (Multan Sultans) Once a stodgy Test opener, now the go-getting captain of the PSL’s outstanding side. It has been quite the transformation for the Kuwait-born batsman. AFP

4 Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars) Forever blowing bubbles, and plundering opposition bowling attacks. His 99 not out in Lahore’s win over Karachi Kings was arguably the highlight of the tournament. EPA

5 Haider Ali (Peshawar Zalmi) Four innings of over 30 and a top score of 69 represented a breakthrough tournament for Peshawar’s new young star. Only 19, but being spoken about as a new national team recruit. AP

6 Ben Cutting (Quetta Gladiators) In his role the late middle-order, Cutting faced just 77 balls in the tournament. He sent 13 of them for six. He also took eight wickets for the outgoing champions. AFP

7 Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) Mature beyond his years. The 21-year-old was reliable with the ball, and a revelation with the bat. His haul of 263 was the fifth most in the league phase. AP

8 Sohail Tanvir (Multan Sultans) Still going strong, 12 years after dominating the first season of the Indian Premier League. His economy rate of 6.8 was the best of any seamer to bowl a significant amount of overs. AFP

9 Mohammed Amir (Karachi Kings) Almost as reliable with the ball as his teammate Babar Azam is with the bat. Only three bowlers managed more than his haul of 10 wickets, and he had a respectable economy, too. AFP

10 Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans) No spinner managed as many wickets as the 10 the evergreen Tahir took for Multan. He will be 41 by the time the league can think about concluding, but he is still fit and firing. EPA

11 Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) The pick of the crop of young Pakistan fast-bowlers, in a competition renowned for the quality of that discipline. Second most wickets, and one of the most thrifty, as well. EPA

Paul Radley

The 2020 HBL Pakistan Super League was suspended on Tuesday after reaching the semi-final stage.

Organisers say they want to reschedule the three remaining games for a later date. Whether that is viable remains to be seen.

Here is a team of players who have thrilled the home crowds most in PSL 5, so far.

Updated: March 18, 2020, 10:31 AM