PSL 2019: Team of the tournament features Mohammad Hasnain and AB de Villiers, Kamran Akmal misses out

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Hasnain (l) and Umer (r). Image - @thePSLt20/Twitter.

    There was some high-octane T20 cricket on show in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with the 2019 edition coming to a successful end on Sunday.

    It was Quetta Gladiators who got their hands on a maiden PSL title while Peshawar Zalmi had to contend with their second runners-up finish in the competition.

    At the end of an enthralling PSL 2019, we have made our picks for the team of the tournament.

    SHANE WATSON – QUETTA GLADIATORS

    The Australian veteran showed no signs of stopping anytime soon with a terrific campaign for champions Quetta. The opening batsman finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament by some distance with 430 runs in 12 innings at an average of exactly 43.

    The 37-year-old registered four half-centuries in the campaign and even came out from his bowling sabbatical by defending 21 runs in the final over during the Qualifier against Peshawar Zalmi.

    Shane Watson. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    Shane Watson. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    AHMED SHEHZAD – QUETTA GLADIATORS

    Opening alongside Watson in our XI is his Quetta team-mate Ahmed Shehzad who was excellent in the latter stages of the tournament including the final. The right-hander was poor in the early half of Quetta’s campaign but quickly rediscovered his best as the tournament progressed.

    Shehzad struck as many as four fifties in his five most recent appearances for Quetta and registered a total of 311 runs in eight innings at an average of nearly 52.

    His extraordinary consistency in the business end of the tournament is the reason Shehzad pips Kamran Akmal who finished as the second highest run-getter in the tournament while effecting the second most amount of dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

    COLIN INGRAM – KARACHI KINGS

    Although Karachi were knocked out in the first Eliminator, Colin Ingram managed to create quite the impression with his displays. The South African batsman did not have the best of times in the early stages of the competition but quickly grew in confidence with each passing game.

    He smashed the first ton of the 2019 edition with a 59-ball 127 against Quetta at Sharjah with his 344 runs overall coming at an average of over 34 and a staggering strike-rate of 164.59.

    AB DE VILLIERS – LAHORE QALANDARS

    He might have only played seven matches in his maiden PSL campaign but AB de Villiers made sure it was a memorable one despite his team’s bottom-place finish.

    The South African ace too started the competition slowly but exploded into life with a sparkling match-winning half-century against Multan Sultans. The right-hander’s 218 runs in the competition came at an impressive average of 54.50 with his extra-ordinary 360 degree shot-making leaving fans in awe.

    Ab de Villiers. Image - @thePSLt20/Twitter.

    Ab de Villiers. Image – @thePSLt20/Twitter.

    SARFRAZ AHMED (C & WK) – QUETTA GLADIATORS

    The Quetta skipper is our designated captain and wicketkeeper for his excellent leadership throughout the side’s title-winning campaign.

    The Pakistan stalwart orchestrated things nicely on the field with his astute captaincy while also scoring a match-winning 52 against Lahore Qalandars. On merit, Kamran Akmal would get the wicketkeeper’s slot in the XI but Sarfaz’s leadership abilities sees him edge it.

    ASIF ALI – ISLAMABAD UNITED

    There is only one contender for the number six slot in the batting line up with Asif Ali putting in a terrific showing for Islamabad United. The Pakistan batsman flourished in the death overs for Islamabad with his explosive hitting and was involved in several quick-fire cameos.

    The right-hander’s 281 runs came at an average greater than 35 and an astonishing strike-rate of 182.46. No batsman struck as many sixes as Asif (26) over the course of the tournament.

    Asif Ali. Image: PSL/Twitter

    Asif Ali. Image: PSL/Twitter

    FAHEEM ASHRAF – ISLAMABAD UNITED

    In the all-rounder’s role it is Asif’s Islamabad team-mate Faheem Ashraf who gets the nod. The 25-year-old was sensational with the ball in hand for the defending champions while playing a few handy cameos with the bat down the order.

    Faheem’s 21 dismissals in the 2019 edition is only behind Peshawar’s Hasan Ali (25) with the Islamabad all-rounder also recording the second-best bowling figures (6-19) in PSL history.

    HASAN ALI – PESHAWAR ZALMI

    The Peshawar man was the standout bowler of the competition and finished as the Maroon Cap (for most wickets) holder with 25 scalps to his name.

    Hasan was the driving force behind Peshawar’s run to the final with his 25 wickets coming at a stunning economy-rate of just 6.77. It was the PSL through which the pacer initially announced himself to the world and his latest displays have only further raised his stock.

    Hasan Ali. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    Hasan Ali. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    WAHAB RIAZ – PESHAWAR ZALMI

    Hasan Ali at Peshawar was perfectly complemented by his senior pace counterpart Wahab Riaz. The former Pakistan international finished as the third-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 17 scalps while also becoming the first bowler in PSL history to breach the 50-wicket barrier.

    Wahab had finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 2018 edition and he has once again shown his importance to Peshawar with another consistent season.

    MOHAMMAD HASNAIN – QUETTA GLADIATORS

    The PSL has always been a breeding ground for future Pakistan talent and the 2019 edition has been no different with Mohammad Hasnain among the youngsters to catch the eye.

    The 18-year-old has turned heads by clocking speeds of over 150kph with his impressive displays earning him a maiden call up to the Pakistan ODI squad. The Quetta youngster picked up 12 wickets from his seven appearances including man-of-the-match figures of 3-30 in the final.

    Mohammad Hasnain. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    Mohammad Hasnain. Image: PSL/Twitter.

    UMER KHAN – KARACHI KINGS

    The other youngster apart from Hasnain to make a name for himself is Karachi’s Umer Khan. The 19-year-old finished as the highest wicket-taker among spinners and fourth highest overall with 15 scalps in his 11 appearances.

    The left-armed orthodox spinner dismissed some illustrious batsmen over the course of the campaign including AB de Villiers, Shoaib Malik and Shane Watson (twice). While Hasnain has been called up to the Pakistan squad, Umer should have his debut soon based on what he has shown in his maiden PSL campaign.

    Recommended