LAHORE – With only two days to go to the start of the HBL PSL 2020, the sixteams have their preparations in full swing with an eye on the glitteringHBL PSL 2020 trophy.
The first two matches of the season will be played at the National StadiumKarachi followed by the first match in Lahore. Defending champions QuettaGladiators, losing finalists Peshawar Zalmi, two-time champions IslamabadUnited and Karachi Kings are based in Karachi. Lahore Qalandars and MultanSultans are practicing in Lahore.
The coaches of the six teams are busy working out team combinations andstrategy ahead of the start of the tournament, they have each pickedperformers who can make a big impact for their side in the tournament.
Quetta Gladiators, Moin Khan:Coach of the defending champions Moin Khan who has been involved with theQuetta Gladiators since the start of the HBL PSL, he feels the tournamentis a great platform for youngsters and they should do their best and makefull use of the opportunities that come their way.
Moin has identified fast bowlers Mohammad Hasnain and Naseem Shah as histrump cards along with young batsman Azam Khan.
Moin Khan said on Tuesday “ “While it is very difficult to identify threeplayers out of our squad since all players are capable, I would say allthree; Hasnain, Naseem and Azam have the potential to turn a game on itshead with their performances.
“Hasnain and Naseem have both tasted success at the international level,their pace will be vital to our plans and they can rattle the oppositionbatsmen.
“Likewise, Azam is a talented player; he is a big-hitter and has tremendouspotential. The way he is practicing and working hard on the game, he canmake a big impact when he gets the opportunity to play.”
Peshawar Zalmi, Mohammad Akram: Like Moin, Mohammad Akram is also a part ofthe Peshawar Zalmi management since the start of the HBL PSL. Akram’sstrategy and planning have remained vital to Zalmi’s success in the league.Akram has identified several players who he thinks hold the key to Zalmi’sshot at the title.
Mohammad Akram said: Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz have been retained due totheir outstanding record for Zalmi; they are our proven match winners.England’s Tom Banton is also a very exciting pick for us given his recentperformances in the T20 circuit around the world.
“Our youngsters Mohammad Mohsin and Haider Ali are also a part of the squadand have great potential and ability.”
Mohsin and Haider were part of the emerging team that won the ACC EmergingTeams Asia Cup last year, Haider also represented Pakistan in the ICC U19Cricket World Cup played in South Africa last month.
Karachi Kings, Dean Jones: Jones who is in his first year with KarachiKings after having previously coached Islamabad United to two titles haspinned hopes on four local players for a big impact in this year’s HBL PSL.These included Awais Zia, Arshad Iqbal, Umar Khan and Usama Mir.
Dean Jones said: “Awais is a very exciting batsman with a good techniqueand base, his batting will be crucial for us when he finds a spot in theeleven. Likewise, I am very impressed by Arshad, Umar and Usama who are alltalented and capable bowlers.
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“The HBL PSL is a big platform for youngsters and I hope these players makethe most of it. Umar, I feel should be regularly playing first-classcricket too, he is one bowler who has a lot of potential.”
Multan Sultans, Andy Flower: Multan Sultans head coach Andy Flower isworking in the HBL PSL for the second time, he worked with Peshawar Zalmiin the inaugural HBL PSL season (2016). Flower is looking forward to hisstint with the Sultans as he feels he has a very capable squad under hisbelt.
Flower thinks Rohail Nazir and Mohammad Ilyas are two young potential matchwinners in the squad who have it in them to make their presence felt in theHBL PSL.
Andy Flower said: “Rohail batted very well in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cupsemi-final against India, he would learn a great deal by playing the HBLPSL especially with foreign stars in the tournament. Ilyas likewise has alot of potential; he has all the attributes of fast bowling. He can bowl avery good yorker, out swing and slower ball. I have full trust in hisabilities.”
Lahore Qalandars Aaqib Javed: Lahore Qalandars coach Aaqib Javed feelsQalandars selections after the Draft were criticized due to their relianceon younger players. Aaqib though has full confidence in the abilities ofthe squad that Qalandars have assembled for HBL PSL 2020.
Aaqib Javed said: “Other than Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman and Chris Lynnplayers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are the players who are ourmatch winners. While our squad is balanced and we have a great combination,these players are the ones who can turn it around big time for us. I feelwe can turn the tables this time around.
“Both Haris and Shaheen have the experience of Pakistani pitches and I amsure they will bring it in useacross all four HBL PSL venues.”
Islamabad United Misbahul Haq: Misbah has full trust in the abilities ofhis entire squad assembled for the HBL PSL 2020. The seasoned campaignerwho led United to the title in the inaugural edition of the tournament in2016 knows the United squad inside out after also having been a part of thesquad when it won the title for the second time in 2018.
Misbah returns to the team after spending the last season with PeshawarZalmi in the role of Mentor-Player.
Misbah-ul-Haq said: “We have won two titles in the past; we have a balancedsquad full of exciting talent. In Luke Ronchi and Asif Ali we have twoplayers who can play match winning innings for us. Meanwhile, Colin Ingram,Colin Munro and Dale Steyn will represent the franchise for the first time,we all know their cricketing abilities and world class stature.
“Steyn’s presence especially will help the fast bowlers in our squad hencehe will be an extremely valuable member of the squad for us”.
