ISLAMABAD – *Star cricketers from many nations have been selected by thesix franchises for PSL 3 and there will be plenty of action for the fans toenjoy throughout the tournament.*
Let’s take a look at the squad of each franchise taking part in thetournament this time around.
*Islamabad United*
Captain: Misbah-ul-HaqHead Coach: Dean JonesBowling Coach: Waqar YounisSpinbowling coach: Saeed Ajmal
The winners of the first edition will be entering with all guns blazing inorder to add another PSL title to their tally. With “Captain Cool”Misbah-ul-Haq as its skipper, the team is a blend of fresh and experiencedcricketers.
Players to look out for: Misbah-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees, RohailNazir, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, J.P. Duminy, Andre Russell, SamuelBadree, David Willey, Sam Billings, and Luke Ronchi.
*Peshawar Zalmi*
Captain: Darren SammyHead Coach: Mohammad AkramBatting Coach: YounisKhanSpin Coach: Saqlain Mushtaq
The defenders of the 2017 edition of PSL will be heading to the tournamentto win the trophy for the second time in a row. The side has experiencedcampaigners in all the three departments of the game.
Players to look out for: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Hasan Ali, WahabRiaz, Haris Sohail, Evin Lewis, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Fletcher, ChrisJordan and Dwayne Bravo.
*Quetta Gladiators*
Captain: Sarfraz AhmedBatting Coach and Mentor: Sir Vivian RichardsHeadCoach: Moin KhanAssistant Coach: Abdul Razzaq
Leading Pakistan to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and a Twenty20series win over New Zealand on their back yard, Sarfraz Ahmed will belooking foward in leading Quetta Gladiators to their first ever PSL win.
Players to look out for: Sarfraz Ahmed, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Nawaz, AnwarAli, Kevin Pietersen, Jason Roy, Carlos Brathwaite, Shane Watson,Mahmudullah, Jofra Archer and John Hastings.
*Karachi Kings*
Captain: Imad WasimPresident: Shahid AfridiHead Coach: MickeyArthurAssistant Coach: Azhar Mahmood
With a new captain and power-hitting all-rounder Shahid Afridi serving asthe team’s President, Karachi Kings will be playing to add their name tothe list of PSL champions. It is pertinent to mention that the struggles toqualify in the play-off stages. Therefore, it is necessary that the teamlearns from the past and experiments with its batting and bowling.
Players to look out for: Imad Wasim, Shahid Afridi, Babar Azam, MohammadAmir, Usman Shinwari, Usama Mir, Colin Munro and Ravi Bopara.
*Lahore Qalandars*
Captain: Brendon McCullumHead Coach: Aqib JavedBatting Consultant:Inzamam-ul-HaqBowling Coach: Shoaib Akhtar
Finishing at the bottom in every season of the tournament, Lahore Qalandars– led by one of the most prolific cricketers of all time Brendon McCullum –will be playing to turn their fortunes around and win the tournament forthe first time.
Players to look out for: Brendon McCullum, Fakhar Zaman, Yasir Shah,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Umar Akmal, Imran Khan, Aamer Yamin,Mitchell McClenaghan, Angelo Mathews, Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine.
*Multan Sultans*
Captain: Shoaib MalikHead Coach: Tom MoodyBatting Coach: MohammadWasimBowling Coach: Wasim Akram
The new-comers in the tournament are led by a veteran management with thelikes of Shoaib Malik – who led Pakistan to the first ever ICC WorldTwenty20 in 2007 – serving as captain and Wasim Akram – who was the mentorof Islamabad United, when the franchise won the first edition back in 2016.With a power pact lineup, let’s see what the team has to offer in theirfirst ever campaign.
Players to look out for: Shoaib Malik, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, SohailTanvir, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Kumar Sangakkara, Kieron Pollard and ImranTahir.