PSL 2018: Best XI from the tournament

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become an important part of a cricketing calendar, especially for Pakistan. In this edition (third), there have been some brilliant performances both with the bat and ball. There were some agonizingly close encounters and more importantly for Pakistan cricket, there were 3 games held in Pakistan (Eliminator 1, Eliminator 2 and the Final).

In the all-important finals, Islamabad United emerged victorious by a margin of 3 wickets, despite a late fightback from Peshawar Zalmi.

Hence, as the tournament has come to an end, we look back at the best XI from the tournament.

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Openers

#1 Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi)

For the second consecutive year, Kamran Akmal has been leading the batting charts in the PSL. After scoring 353 runs in the last season, Akmal bettered his record this time as he scored in excess of 400 runs this season.

But the wicket-keeper batsman has been brilliant in the tournament. He started the tournament with a duck, but soon found his touch as he struck a fine 53 and starred in Peshawar’s first win of the tournament. As the season went along, Akmal got better and better. He struck a superb 107 in 61 balls to drive Peshawar Zalmi into the play-offs. In the second Eliminator, Akmal hit a magnificent 27-ball 77 and helped his team qualify for the final. However, he failed to perform in the final as he was dismissed for just 1.

But, with 425 runs in 13 games, the senior Akmal was the second highest run-getter of the tournament. His strike-rate of 153.42 is also among the best in the tournament.

Innings – 12, Runs – 425, Average – 38.63, Strike-rate – 153.42, Highest – 107*

#2 Luke Ronchi (Islamabad United)

Luke Ronchi might have retired from international cricket but his hitting prowess hasn’t gone down. Opening the batting for Islamabad United, the New Zealand wicketkeeper has given his team some very good starts.

Even Ronchi began the tournament poorly. In his first four innings, he had two ducks and made only 46 runs (in 4 innings). But as the tournament went along, he became very consistent. He has scored 5 fifties in his last 7 innings and has not been dismissed for a single-digit score.

Overall in 11 innings, he has amassed 435 runs at an average of 43.50 and a staggering strike-rate of 182.00. His unbeaten innings of 94 in the Qualifier helped Islamabad get through to the final. In the title-clash, he scored 52 in just 26 balls to provide a perfect platform for Islamabad in their chase of 149. He was awarded the Player of the Match in the final and was also the Player of the Tournament.

Innings – 11, Runs – 435, Average – 43.50, Strike-rate – 182.00, Highest – 94*

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Middle-order

Babar Azam has been very consistent in limited-overs cricket over the last two years.

#3 Babar Azam (Karachi Kings)

Babar Azam has become one of the most reliable Pakistan batsmen over the last couple of years, especially in limited-overs cricket. He has been very consistent. And he has continued his good form in the PSL this year.

He has scored 402 runs in 11 innings at an average of 40.20. He has also hit 5 fifties in this tournament (which is the most by any batsman in this year’s PSL). His 63 in the Eliminator 2 went in vain as Karachi Kings failed to chase down 171.

Innings – 11, Runs – 402, Average – 40.20, Strike-rate – 122.18, Highest – 66

#4 Shoaib Malik (Multan Sultans)

Shoaib Malik has been an integral part of Pakistan’s batting line-up over the last decade or so. Even in the PSL, he was the key batsman for his team, Multan Sultans.

In a rather disappointing tournament, Malik was one of the most consistent batsmen of the team. In 8 innings, he scored 224 runs at an average of 37.33. His unbeaten knock of 65 (coming into bat at 41/3) was one of the highlights of Multan’s campaign this year.

Innings – 8, Runs – 224, Average – 37.33, Strike-rate – 124.44, Highest – 65*

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Wicket-keeper and All-rounders

Sarfraz and Watson were very good for the Quetta Gladiators.

#5 Shane Watson (Quetta Gladiators)

After a poor IPL last year, many thought that Shane Watson’s abilities (with both bat and ball) have gone down. But he has proved that last year’s IPL was just a bad phase. Watson was the fifth highest run-getter in the Big Bash this season. And he continued his rich vein of form into the PSL.

With the bat, he amassed 319 runs in 10 innings at an average of 35.44 and a strike-rate of 135.16. He is the fifth highest run-getter of the tournament. The retired Australian also took 11 wickets in the tournament. He was one of the most successful all-rounders in this edition of the PSL.

Innings – 10, Runs – 319, Average – 35.44, Strike-rate – 135.16, Highest – 90*, Wickets – 11

#6 Sarfraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators)

Sarfraz Ahmed has been one of the reasons for Pakistan’s rise in limited-overs cricket. He has led inspirationally and has done very well as a finisher.

In this PSL, he amassed 223 runs in 9 innings and has also kept well behind the stumps. He has affected the second most dismissals in this season of the PSL. He also led the Quetta Gladiators to the playoffs where they lost to Peshawar Zalmi in the first Eliminator.

Innings – 9, Runs – 223, Average – 37.16, Strike-rate – 129.65, Highest – 45*

#7 Darren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi) – Captain

Darren Sammy might not be a force to reckon anymore in international cricket, but he certainly hasn’t lost the knack of winning games out of nowhere. He is still one of the most powerful strikers of the ball.

In this year’s PSL, his numbers might not look great but his contributions have been brilliant. He is finishing off the innings for Peshawar whenever the opportunity arises.

In a game against Quetta Gladiators, he was struggling to run, but he struck 16 in 4 deliveries to get his team home. It showed that he is still one of the most dangerous finishers. In 9 innings, Sammy has scored 153 runs at a stunning strike-rate of 188.88.

Innings – 10, Runs – 159, Average – 22.71, Strike-rate – 182.75, Highest – 36*, Wickets – 2

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Bowlers

Faheem Ashraf was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament

#8 Faheem Ashraf (Islamabad United)

When Faheem Ashraf struck that 30-ball 64 against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy warm-up game, he was seen as the next big-hitting allrounder for Pakistan.

In this year’s PSL, he hasn’t had to do much with the bat, but he has been topping the bowling charts. With 18 wickets in 12 games, Ashraf was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. His strike-rate of 13.3 is simply outstanding. He has led the Islamabad bowling attack brilliantly and has been one of the reasons for their success.

Innings – 12, Wickets – 18, Economy – 7.75, Strike-rate – 13.3, Best – 3/19

#9 Usman Khan (Karachi Kings)

Pakistan has this unique knack of producing one quality fast bowler after the other. Usman Khan is the latest entrant in the plethora of Pakistan fast bowlers. He took a fifer against Sri Lanka in just his second ODI game before getting injured.

However, the left-arm pacer has come storming back and has been one of the best bowlers in this edition of the PSL. He has taken 16 wickets in 9 innings. His economy is slightly on the higher side – 8.02, but his strike-rate of 12.0 is the best for any bowler who has bowled more than 5 overs.

Innings – 9, Wickets – 16, Economy – 8.02, Strike-rate – 12.0, Best – 4/17

#10 Wahab Riaz (Peshawar Zalmi)

Wahab Riaz is a kind of bowler who could bowl a match-winning spell on one day and on another he might baffle you with a bizarre one. However, Riaz found good consistency in this year’s PSL.

He has taken 16 wickets in 12 games and what’s more important is that he has been in control and hasn’t leaked runs. His economy of 6.86 suggests that he has kept things relatively quiet, something which we don’t associate Wahab Riaz with. He last played for Pakistan almost a year ago and has served a gentle reminder to the selectors with a very good PSL.

Innings – 13, Wickets – 18, Economy – 6.90, Strike-rate – 16.6, Best – 3/30

#11 Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans)

The one thing the entire cricketing fraternity loves Imran Tahir is for his celebrations. Tahir has been very consistent in limited-overs cricket in the last few years. He was also the No. 1 ranked ODI a few months back. But he had an underwhelming series against India this year where he took just 1 wicket in 4 ODIs.

However, Tahir roared back into form in this PSL. He has taken 13 wickets in 9 innings. He was Multan Sultans’ best bowler of the tournament. He used his variations to great effect as the batsmen didn't find it easy to pick him.

Innings – 9, Wickets – 13, Economy – 7.24, Strike-rate – 15.2, Best – 3/19

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