The wait is over as Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket competition returns to our TV screens this weekend.
Ahead of the tournament starting, TIBS News are running the rule over each of the sides taking place, as well as a few of the English stars to watch out for.
The tournament gets underway on Saturday when the Karachi Kings take on the Quetta Gladiators.
HOW DOES THE TOURNAMENT WORK?
Each team plays matches in a double round-robin format, meaning they face the same opposition home and away. The top four teams with the best record then qualify for the play-offs and the tournament culminates in the championship game – known as the PSL Cup Final. The 2021 edition will run from February 20 to March 22.
THE TEAMS
Karachi Kings
Based: Karachi, Pakistan
Home stadium: National Stadium
Capacity: 34,228
Captain: Imad Wasim
Coach: N/A
Kit colours: Purple and yellow
The Karachi Kings come into this tournament looking to defend the trophy they won for the first time in November, as they won the fifth edition of the Super League. Their layers to watch out for include the captain, Imad Wasim who is an all-rounder with an eye for some quick wickets. Babar Azam is another reliable performer and has a batting average of just under 50 in T20 cricket.
Any British players to look out for? The only Englishman representing the Kings this year is young wicket-keeper Joe Clarke, who during the summer season plays for Nottinghamshire.
Islamabad United
Based: Islamabad (capital of Pakistan)
Home stadium: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Capacity: 17,000
Captain: Shadab Khan
Coach: Johan Botha
Kit colours: Red and yellow
Islamabad United are twice winners of the competition, previously winning in 2016 and 2018 and as such are the most successful franchise in the history of the tournament. The Sherus (Lions) will be looking to make it a record third title when they get underway against the Multan Sultans on Sunday afternoon. Shadab Khan is one of their star men – the Pakistan T20 captain is a super-reliable bowlerwho has 53 wickets in 46 T20 matches.
Any British players to look out for? Alex Hales, the English batsman whose career has been blemished by off-field events, is back with United for his second spell and looking for a repeat of past glories after winning last year with Karachi Kings. Also on the Islamabad roster this year is Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory and in Paul Stirling. With Stirling they possess someone who is widely considered one of the best Irish batsmen around.
Lahore Qalandars
Based: Lahore, Pakistan
Home stadium: Gaddafi Stadium
Capacity: 27,000
Captain: Sohail Akhtar
Coach: Aaqib Javed
Kit colours: Grey and green
The Qalanders head into the tournament looking for their maiden tournament victory. They finished bottom on points in each of the first four editions before making their first appearance in the final last year. Lahore have a number of exciting players within their squad, including the versatile Mohammad Hafeez who turned 40 in December. He forms part of the bowling attack, while batting as part of the top order. He has previously been ranked as the top all-rounder in limited over formats by the ICC Player Rankings.
Any British players to look out for? Batsmen Tom Abell and Joe Denly make up part of the Qalandars squad this year. Denly, who made his Test debut for England at the start of 2019, has previously won this tournament doing so with the Karachi Kings in 2018. While Abell is primarily a right-handed batsman, he also bowls right-arm medium pace and is making his competition debut this year.
Multan Sultans
Based: Multan, Pakistan
Home stadium: Multan Cricket Stadium
Capacity: 30,000
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Coach: Andy Flower
Kit: Green and blue
Led by ex-England coach Andy Flower, the Multan Sultans are also looking to win the PSL title for the first time in their history. With Mohammad Rizwan now back at the club for the first time since 2017, they’re definitely in with a chance of victory. Rizwan is a keeper who leads by example, as well as playing well with the bat. He has a wide range of skills available to call upon, thanks to time spent at the highest level of each cricketing discipline. In South African Imran Tahir, they possess a wily old head whose best figures of 5-23 show just how dangerous he can be.
Any British players to look out for? James Vince, who took two catches as a sub fielder in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, is back for a third season in the green and blue – having joined originally in 2019. He is supplemented by the stalwart Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth, someone who is also comfortable with the ball in hand.
Peshawar Zalmi
Based: Peshawar, Pakistan
Home stadium: Arbab Niaz Stadium
Capacity: 35,000
Captain: Wahab Riaz
Coach: Daren Sammy
Kit: Yellow and black
Super League winners in 2017, Peshawar, also known as the ‘Yellow Storm’ are aiming for a second title to add to their collection. They’re looking particularly strong in the batting department and the legendary South African Hashim Amla is back as batting coach for a second season. Amla is the fastest batsman ever to score 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 ODI runs. He also racked up over 1,200 T20 runs so they’re in good hands. Captain Wahab Riaz is set to lead the bowling attack for the sixth time as the 35-year-old looks to build on an impressive 242 wickets in T20 cricket.
Any British players to look out for? Batsman Liam Livingstone is back for a second season with Peshawar following time out in Australia where he competed in the BBL for the Perth Scorchers alongside Jason Roy. He’ll be looking to up his run total a bit, having only scored 100 once in 114 T20 games going into this tournament. Livingstone is supplemented by ex-England Test player and all-rounder Ravi Bopara and Lancashire bowler Saqib Mahmood, who like Livingstone, is back for a second season running.
Quetta Gladiators
Based: Quetta, Pakistan
Home stadium: Bugti Stadium
Capacity: 20,000
Captain: Sarfraz Ahmed
Coach: Moin Khan
Kit: Purple
Quetta Gladiators, or ‘Purple Force’ as they are sometimes known, have assembled a strong side as they look to reclaim the title they won for the first time in 2019. Among their ranks is superstar all-rounder Chris Gayle, who always seems capable of playing well. There’s been a South African injection in Quetta as Faf Du Plessis joins from Peshawar Zalmi and bowler Dale Steyn from Islamabad. Making his PSL debut with the Gladiators is 18-year-old bowler Naseem Shah. Shah rose to prominence in December 2019 when he became the second youngest bowler to take a five-wicket-haul in a Test match, doing so against Sri Lanka. He was part of the touring squad that took on England in Southampton and Manchester last summer too.
Any British players to look out for? Just the one British player is taking part for Quetta this year after Roy wasn’t selected this time around. Tom Banton has transferred from Peshawar Zalmi, and will take on the role of wicket-keeper/batsman.
