By Sports Desk

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is all set to rock the world of lucrative T20 leagues. With 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the five-team, 24-match league will be held from February 4 to February 23 at two UAE stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai.

The teams were sold for a total of $93 million to ARY media group (Karachi Kings), Qatar Oil (Lahore Qalandars), UAE Capital Venture (Islamabad United), Haier (Peshawar Zalmi) and Omar Associates (Quetta Gladiators) for 10 years, with $200,000 salaries for top-tier players and relatively handsome pays for mid-tier and emerging talent as well. The winning side, meanwhile, will bring home $1 million.

With the legendary Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja as brand ambassadors, the PSL is being touted as Pakistan’s much needed opportunity to resurface on the international cricket scene in the limited overs.

 

Featuring 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the five-team, 24-match Pakistam Super League will be held From February 4 – 23 across two stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai — Pakistan’s “home away from home”.

The teams were sold to private consortiums for a sum of $93 million across 10 years, with $200,000 salaries for top-tier players and relatively handsome paydays for middle-tier and emerging talent.

The winning side, meanwhile, will bring home $1 million.

Following are profiles of the five teams:

Islamabad United was sold to Leonine Global Sports for $15million/year for a period of 10 years.

Islamabad signed Australian Shane Watson as their icon player, but Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq will be leading the side in the inaugural edition.

Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones is the head coach, and will be accompanied by Tauseef Ahmed (assistant coach) and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram (director).

Islamabad can call upon one of the most potent bowling attacks in the tournament, boasting the likes of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Samuel Badree and Mohammad Sami among their ranks.

The team also features devastating all-rounders in Shane Watson and Andre Russell, who have the capacity to turn the game on its head on any given day with both bat and ball.

Misbah, alongside young Pakistani batsman Babar Azam, can provide stability in the middle order.

Islamabad have only one specialist wicketkeeper in Brad Haddin, who at 38 is no longer the player he once was. If Haddin gets injured, then Islamabad will struggle to replace him.

Islamabad also lack finishers in their lineup, with Russell the only batsman to boast an impressive track record in that role.

1. Shane Watson – 6 Matches, 194 runs, 1 wicket
2. Andre Russell – 10 Matches, 84 runs, 16 wickets
3. Misbah-ul-Haq – 9 Matches, 166 runs
4. Samuel Badree – 6 Matches, 2 runs, 4 wickets
5. Mohammad Irfan – 6 Matches, 7 wickets
6. Brad Haddin – 8 Matches, 188 runs, 7 catches, 1 stumping
7. Sharjeel Khan – 11 Matches, 299 runs
8. Mohammad Sami – 7 Matches, 23 runs, 12 wickets
9. Khalid Latif – 9 Matches, 206 runs
10. Babar Azam – 2 Matches, 15 runs
11. Imran Khalid – 9 Matches, 38 runs, 9 wickets
12. Kamran Ghulam – 2 Matches, 9 runs
13. Umar Amin – 2 Matches, 4 runs
14. Sam Billings – 5 Matches, 34 runs, 2 catch, 0 stumping
15. Rumman Raees – 8 Matches, 6 runs, 4 wicket
16. Amad Butt –
17. Ashar Zaidi – 3 Matches, 8 runs
18. Saeed Ajmal – 6 Matches, 20 runs, 6 wicket
19. Hussain Talat –
20. Asif Ali – 3 Matches, 34 runs
21. Azhar Mahmood – 2 Match, 14 runs, 1 wicket
22. Umar Siddiq
23. Dwayne Smith – 3 Matches, 80 runs

Karachi Kings was sold to Salman Iqbal, the owner of ARY Group, for $26million/year for a period of 10 years, making them the most expensive franchise.

Karachi signed up for former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik as their icon player, who will also captain the side.

Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is the head coach, and is being accompanied by former Pakistan leggie Mushtaq Ahmed, who will work both as the assistant and as the bowling coach.

Karachi Kings have a number of all-rounders who have proven to be an important asset in the shortest format of the game.

The likes of Malik, Imad Wasim and Shakibal Hasan provide the team with much-needed balance with both bat and ball.

Karachi’s spin department seems to be on the stronger side with two quality left-arm spinners in Imad and Shakib and a very talented leg-spinner in Usama Mir.

Kings’ pace attack also looks solid with left-arm pacer Muhammad Amir, right-arm quickie Sohail Khan and left-arm unorthodox medium pacer Sohail Tanvir in their lineup.

Karachi also have the services of a proven T20 captain in Malik, under whom Sialkot Stallions have won the domestic T20 tournaments a record six times.

Lack of quality batting at the top of the order can prove to be a problem for Karachi; especially since England international James Vince is a doubt due to his commitment with the national side.

Another thing that may be a problem for the Kings is the absence of renowned big hitters in the lower order. The team will have to rely heavily on stroke makers rather than genuine power hitters and sloggers who can play vital cameos in the death overs.

1. Shoaib Malik – 9 Matches, 157 runs, 1 wicket
2. Shakib Al Hasan – 8 Matches, 126 runs, 3 wickets
3. Sohail Tanvir – 6 Matches, 33 runs, 2 wickets
4. Imad Wasim – 8 Matches, 48 run, 4 wickets
5. Ravi Bopara – 9 Matches, 329 runs, 11 wicket
6. Lendl Simmons – 6 Matches, 151 runs
7. Mohammad Amir – 7 Matches, 10 runs, 7 wickets
8. Bilawal Bhatti – 1 Match, 15 runs, 2 wickets
9. James Vince – 7 Matches, 111 runs
10. Iftikhar Ahmed – 4 Matches, 27 run, 0 wicket
11. Nauman Anwar – 5 Matches, 55 run, 0 wicket
12. Mushfiqur Rahim – 3 Matches, 49 runs, 1 catch, 2 stumping
13. Usama Mir – 7 Matches, 13 runs, 6 wickets
14. Sohail Khan – 5 Matches, 21 runs, 4 wicket
15. Mir Hamza – 4 Matches, 0 wicket
16. Safiullah Bangash – 5 Matches, 0 run, 2 catch, 0 stumping
17. Tillakaratne Dilshan –
18. Shahzaib Hasan – 2 Match, 45 runs
19. Fawad Alam –
20. Ryan ten Doeschate – 1 Match, 16 runs
21. Riki Wessels – 2 Matches, 4 runs

Lahore Qalandars was sold to Qatar Lubricants for $24million/year for a period of 10 years.

Lahore signed West Indian opener Chris Gayle, who holds the records for the fastest century and half-century in T20s, as their icon player. However, the team will be led by Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali.

South African Paddy Upton has been appointed as the head coach, with Ijaz Ahmed (batting coach) and Shahid Aslam (assistant coach) also in the coaching roster.

Lahore have the services of proven big-hitters in Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Umar Akmal.

They can also call upon the services of exciting young Pakistani talents such as Mohammad Rizwan, Sohaib Maqsood and Zafar Gohar.

The presence of veteran Abdul Razzaq as a supplementary players is also going to excite supporters, as he is a proven match-winner.

Qalandars will be led by a captain, Azhar Ali, who was a Test specialist before he was inducted into the ODI side as the captain. He has never played a T20I for Pakistan and has scored only two half-centuries in 42 domestic T20s.

He recently captained Lahore Lions in the domestic T20 tournament and the team finished bottom of their group.

Another drawback is the unavailability of key bowlers Yasir Shah and Mustafizur Rahman. The former is facing a potential ban after failing to pass a random dope test, while the latter has been barred from participating in the PSL to reduce his work load before the World T20.

1. Chris Gayle – 5 Matches, 103 runs
2. Dwayne Bravo – 8 Matches, 111 runs, 4 wicket
3. Umar Akmal – 7 Matches, 335 runs
4. Mohammad Rizwan – 8 Matches, 103 runs, 6 catch, 4 stumpings
5. Ajantha Mendis – 4 Matches, 4 wickets
6. Shoaib Maqsood – 2 Match, 79 runs
7. Mustafizur Rahman –
8. Kevon Cooper – 7 Matches, 10 runs, 6 wickets
9. Cameron Delport – 8 Matches, 227 runs, 4 wickets
10. Zafar Gohar – 6 Matches, 1 run, 7 wickets
11. Hammad Azam – 3 Matches, 18 runs
12. Zia-ul-Haq – 3 Matches, 3 wicket
13. Zohaib Khan – 7 Matches, 18 runs, 3 wickets
14. Azhar Ali – 7 Matches, 183 runs
15. Naved Yasin – 5 Matches, 27 runs
16. Adnan Rasool – 3 Matches, 0 runs
17. Abdul Razzaq –
18. Mukhtar Ahmed –
19. Ehsan Adil – 5 Matches, 7 wickets
20. Imran Butt –

Peshawar Zalmi was sold to Javed Afridi, the CEO of Haier Pakistan, for $16million for a 10-year period.

Zalmi signed Pakistan T20I captain Shahid Afridi as their icon player, who will also captain the side.

Mohammad Akram was appointed as their head coach and the former Pakistan paceman will be assisted by Andy Flower (batting coach) and Grant Ludon (fielding coach).

Peshawar boast star T20 performers in Shahid Afridi, Darren Sammy, Mohammad Hafeez and Tamim Iqbal among their ranks.

The team also has some other potential match winners, including Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz.

Wahab, Shaun Tait and Junaid Khan form a good fast-bowling lineup, while Afridi has once again found form with the ball.

Too many oldies can ruin the show for Peshawar. In a format which is touted to be for young and energetic cricketers, Peshawar’s reliance on the tried and tested may be to theire detriment.

The spin department looks weak as too much hope has been placed on the ageing shoulders of Shahid Afridi and Abdur Rehman. The latter has been out of the national team for quite some time now and has played only eight T20Is for Pakistan.

1. Shahid Afridi – 10 Matches, 87 runs, 10 wickets
2. Wahab Riaz – 9 Matches, 56 runs, 15 wickets
3. Darren Sammy – 10 Matches, 140 runs, 4 wickets
4. Kamran Akmal – 10 Matches, 151 runs, 8 catches, 2 stumpings
5. Mohammad Hafeez – 9 Matches, 220 runs
6. Shaun Tait – 9 Matches, 10 wickets
7. Tamim Iqbal – 6 Matches, 267 runs
8. Junaid Khan – 6 Matches, 2 runs, 6 wickets
9. Jim Allenby – 2 Match, 38 runs
10. Aamer Yamin – 2 Match, 0 runs, 1 wickets
11. Dawid Malan – 8 Matches, 163 runs
12. Imran Khan jr – 1 Match, 1 wicket
13. Shahid Yousuf – 9 Matches, 99 runs
14. Abdur Rehman – 1 Match, 0 wicket
15. Musadiq Ahmed –
16. Hasan Ali – 3 Matches 2 wickets, 6 runs
17. Mohammad Asghar – 9 Matches, 11 wickets, 1 run
18. Brad Hodge – 4 matches, 93 runs
19. Israrullah –
20. Taj

Quetta Gladiators was sold to Omar Associates for $11million/year for a period of 10 years.

Gladiators signed former England batsman Kevin Pietersen as their icon player, but Pakistan ODI and T20I vice-captain Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side.

Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has been appointed as the head coach, while England’s Ian Pont (assistant/bowling coach) and Julien Fountain (fielding coach) will assist him.

Quetta have a strong batting line-up. The Sarfraz-led side boast the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Ahmed Shehzad, Luke Wright, Elton Chigumbura and Saad Nasim.

The left-arm/right-arm spin duo of Zulfiqar Babar and Bilal Asif can provide them with an advantage on UAE’s spin-friendly pitches.

A glaring lack of finishers is the obvious weak department for Quetta, as they will have to heavily rely on Anwar Ali to get them over the line in crunch situations with the bat.

A lack of depth in the squad also seems to be a real problem, and any injury to the playing eleven can disrupt the balance of the entire team.

1. Kevin Pietersen – 9 Matches, 215 runs
2. Sarfraz Ahmed – 10 Matches, 168 runs, 2 catches, 2 stumpings
3. Ahmed Shehzad – 10 Matches, 290 runs
4. Anwar Ali – 9 Matches, 38 runs, 9 wickets
5. Grant Elliott – 6 Matches, 65 runs, 11 wickets
6. Luke Wright – 6 Matches, 169 runs
7. Zulfiqar Babar – 10 Matches, 22 runs, 9 wickets
8. Umar Gul – 6 Matches, 4 wickets
9. Elton Chigumbura – 5 Matches, 10 runs
10. Bilal Asif –
11. Asad Shafiq – 1 Match, 16 runs
12. Mohammad Nawaz – 10 Matches, 120 runs, 13 wickets
13. Saad Nasim –
14. Mohammad Nabi – 8 Matches, 47 runs, 4 wickets
15. Akbar-ur-Rehman – 7 Matches, 15 runs
16. Bismillah Khan – 3 Matches, 55 runs
17. Kumar Sangakkara – 4 Matches, 129 runs
18. Aizaz Cheema – 4 Match, 6 wickets
19. Rameez –

February 4

Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators (Dubai)

Quetta won by eight wickets

February 5

Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars (Dubai)

Karachi won by seven wickets

February 5

9pm PST: Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United (Dubai)

Peshawar won by 24 runs

February 6 

Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings (Dubai)

Quetta won by eight wickets

February 6

Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi (Dubai)

Peshawar won by nine wickets

February 7

Islamabad United v Karachi Kings (Dubai)

Islamabad won by two runs

February 7

Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi

Quetta Gladiators won by three wickets 

February 8

Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators (Dubai)

Lahore won by 63 runs

February 10

Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars (Sharjah)

Islamabad won by eight wickets

February 11

Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (Sharjah)

Peshawar won by three runs

February 11

Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators (Sharjah)

Quetta won by seven wickets

February 12 

Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars (Sharjah)

Karachi won by 27 runs

February 12

Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi (Sharjah)

Peshawar won by seven wickets

February 13

Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators (Sharjah)

Quetta won by five wickets

February 13

Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi (Sharjah)

Lahore won by four runs

February 14

Islamabad United v Karachi Kings (Sharjah)

Islamabad won by five wickets

February 14

Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi (Sharjah)

Peshawar won by eight wickets

February 16

Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators (Dubai)

Quetta won by two wickets

February 17

Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (Dubai)

Peshawar won by five wickets

February 17

Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars (Dubai)

Islamabad won by five wickets

February 19

1st Playoff – Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (Dubai)

Quetta won by one run

February 20

2nd Playoff – Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings (Dubai)

Islamabad won by nine wickets

February 21

3rd Playoff – Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United (Dubai)

Islamabad won by 50 runs

February 23

Finals – Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United

Islamabad won by six wickets

February 23

Quetta Gladiators are successful because they are like a family, says Viv Richards

Pakistan keen to build on Super League success

Forget fish, Muhammad Irfan catches birds when on a boat

We’ll win it for Quetta, says Sarfraz

February 22

For Asia Cup, World T20: Sharjeel, Sami expected to make it to T20I squad

Quetta and Gladiators: The underdog story

February 21

Karachi failed with the bat, admits coach Arthur

PSL final sold out, says Najam Sethi

I’d go to Pakistan but I’d be scared: Russell

Team chemistry makes us stand out, says Shehzad

February 19

Ravi Bopara replaces Shoaib Malik as Karachi Kings’ captain

PSL in numbers

PCB negotiating mentoring deal with Sir Vivian Richards

PSL 2016: Best performers so far

Zalmis Unite: Fans get behind home team ahead of today’s clash

February 18

Into the play-offs: Islamabad gaining momentum, says Russell

Billings labels PSL ‘cracking experience’

Karachi Kings to develop youth academy system for aspiring cricketers

Turning out for Quetta: Nabi honoured to be part of HBL PSL

February 17

West Indian Cooper reported for bowling action

PSL teams duke it out in fan loyalty battle

February 15

The Wright idea: Luke tells Shehzad to keep his chin up

Afridi, Sarfraz downplay Wahab-Shehzad scuffle

PSL will shape future of Pakistan cricket: Chris Gayle

February 12

From Kings to beggars: So close yet so far once again for Karachi

February 11

Peshawar Zalmi can win PSL: Sammy

February 10

Will announce retirement if I fail to return: Ajmal

Clearing the air: Debunking myths surrounding PSL

February 9

Badree confident of Islamabad comeback

Unique entertainment of a ‘run down’ PSL

February 8

Ahmad Shahzad summons inner cheerleader in latest cry for attention

From Hub to Karachi, then PSL and stardom

February 5

APS survivors receive royal protocol in UAE

The best and worst moments of the PSL opening ceremony

At the crack of Shaun

February 4

Stars shine as PSL kicks off in Dubai

For better or worse: Pakistan’s first ‘halal’ betting website launches for PSL

Sides select local supplementary players

Wasim Akram is having way too much fun at PSL

150 APS students leave for Dubai to attend PSL inauguration ceremony

Wasim, Afridi want fans to get behind PSL

February 3

PSL, YouTube agree to stream matches live

Quetta Gladiators have a good chance to win PSL: Luke Wright

February 2

Ashar hopes PSL will help earn England WT20 call

PSL: Up and close with Billings, Kamran

Ali Zafar releases official anthem for Pakistan Super League

February 1

West Indies’ Sammy impresses Afridi with Pashto skills

Hafeez not allowed to bowl in PSL

January 26

Afridi to fly 150 APS students to PSL launch in Dubai

January 23

Imran Khan not returning to cricket

January 21

Ali Zafar, Sean Paul set to kick-off PSL in Dubai

February 12

Match 12: Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars

February 11

Match 11: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators

Match 10: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi

February 10

Match 9: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars

February 8

Match 8: Lahore Qalanadars vs Quetta Gladiators

February 7

Match 7: Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi

Match 6: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings

February 6

Match 5: Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi

Match 4: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings

February 5

Match 3: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United

Match 2: Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars

February 4

Match 1: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators

PSL opening ceremony

Pakistani signer/actor performing in the opening ceremony PHOTO COURTESY: PSL FACEBOOK

PSL is a revolution: Moin Khan

Ashar hopes PSL will help earn England World T20 call

PSL to revive cricket in Pakistan: Kamran Akmal

Islamabad are favourites: Sam Billings

Quetta Gladiators have a good chance to win PSL: Luke Wright