PSL 2020: Babar Azam keeps a cool head to guide Karachi Kings to victory in final

Karachi's star batsman showed remarkable poise on an emotional night to guide his team to victory over Lahore Qalandars

1. Babar Azam (Karachi Kings, 473 runs, strike rate 124.14) - Man of the match in the first qualifier and the final, and the leading run-scorer in the competition by 148, he just about scrapes into our team of the tournament. AFP

2. Chris Lynn (Lahore Qalandars, 284 runs, strike rate 179.74) - How crucial was his unavailability for the playoffs? The Australian’s brutal hitting brought Lahore to life – while his replacement Tamim Iqbal struggled in the final. AFP

3. Shan Masood (Multan Sultans, 283 runs, strike rate 128.05) - What a pity that Multan ended this season with nothing. They were the outstanding side in the group, and lost the first qualifier via a super over. They were brilliantly led by Masood. AFP

4. Mohammed Hafeez (Lahore Qalandars, 312 runs, strike rate 125.30) - The 40-year-old batsman is getting better with age, and his excellence powered Lahore’s run to the final. His 74 not out in the eliminator match was sparkling. AFP

5. Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars, 300 runs, strike rate 167.59) - Few players coloured the 2020 PSL quite so brightly as the Australian wicketkeeper, whether it be by his big hitting, his bubble gum blowing, or his happiness to stay on amid the Covid uncertainty. AFP

6. Shadab Khan (Islamabad United, 263 runs, strike rate 159.39, 8 wickets, 8.24 economy rate) - Two-time champions Islamabad might have had a rare off year, as they finished last, but their young captain could scarcely have done more. Few players in the competition had a greater impact than he did. AFP

7. Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings, 7 wickets, 7.06 economy rate) - The captain of the winning team in the final, and he hit the winning runs, too. The left-armer’s thriftiest with the ball was crucial to Karachi's maiden PSL title win. AFP

8. Sohail Tanvir (Multan Sultans, 14 wickets, 7.54 economy rate) - It is 12 years now since Tanvir announced himself as hot T20 property by lighting up the first IPL, but he is still churning out excellence consistently. This time, it was in the colours of Multan. AFP

9. Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars, 17 wickets, 7.11 economy rate) - The outstanding bowler in the competition, and surely its most impressive figure after Babar Azam. Their confrontation in the final felt like the immovable object vs the irresistible force. AFP

10. Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans, 14 wickets, 7.54 economy rate) - Between helping Multan top the table and playing the playoffs, he had played at the CPL, and a bit part role in the IPL. It might have contributed to his form cooling at just the wrong time. AFP

11. Waqas Maqsood (Karachi Kings, 6 wickets, 5.25 economy rate) - It may seem like an indulgence selecting a player who featured in just three matches in the tournament. But the left-armer went at less than a run a ball in that time, and played a key role in the final. AFP

Given the emotion driving Karachi Kings in their pursuit of their first PSL title on Tuesday night, the poise showed by their star batsman was remarkable.

Babar Azam was the embodiment of the adage: fire in the belly, ice in the mind.

Once victory was sealed, he tweeted a picture of the late Dean Jones, who had started the tournament as Karachi’s coach, with the message: “Deano, job done coach!”

Jones, who died in September, leaves behind a remarkable legacy in this tournament.

This triumph included, he has been the coach for three of the five PSL title winning sides so far – twice with Islamabad, and now setting up this one for Karachi.

Babar did everything possible to make sure they provided the right tribute for Jones, with man of the match displays in both the first qualifier and the final.

In making 63 not out in the run chase against Lahore Qalandars, he appeared to be playing a different game to everyone else.

As the final was progressing, the analytics company CricViz calculated Lahore had attacked 58 per cent of the deliveries they faced, but were only in control of 69 per cent.

By contrast Karachi, with Babar at the wicket throughout their chase, attacked 47 per cent, but were in control of 84 per cent. It required data to be crunched to get that information.

And yet Babar was already ahead of the game, just using his own onboard computer.

While fielding at point and juggling his bowlers through the final overs of the Lahore innings, he conducted a lucid conversation with Ramiz Raja on commentary, via the Spider Cam.

The gist of it was that the pitch required orthodox cricket shots, rather than attempting to force the issue with muscle.

Which meant Babar was always going to be better qualified than anyone to counter the challenge.

Playing “proper cricket shots” he maintained a strike rate of 128.57, which is a run better than his career strike rate – 127.53 - in the format.

The ease with which he did so cut a stark contrast to everyone else. For Lahore, Tamim Iqbal had struck at 92.1 per 100 balls, Fakhar Zaman 112.5, Ben Dunk 78.57, and David Wiese an even 100.

His colleagues struggled, too. Sharjeel Khan was hitting at 108.53, Alex Hales 100, and Chadwick Walton, 81.48.

“It's been a great year for me, but today, I just needed to remain cool,” Babar said.

“The team was depending on me and I needed not to panic. The wicket was slow and I wasn't feeling the ball on the bat very well. I feel the calmer you are, the better you perform.”

His confidence will have been bolstered by his form. In his past six trips to the crease, he has not failed to pass 50.

“I'm on the quest for improvement all the time, and how to deal with batting in different situations and different countries,” Babar said. “I just try and remain positive.”