5 lesser known picks from the PSL drafts

The drafts for the Pakistan Super League, (PSL) a T20 tournament to held in February in the UAE were held over two days – December 21 and 22. Out of a pool of 310 players that contained 138 Pakistani players, the five teams were allowed to pick an initial squad of 16 across five categories – Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Emerging – followed by four supplementary players.Each team was allowed to pick three players from the first five categories, followed by five each from the Silver category and two from the Emerging category. In addition to these, teams were allowed to pick four players as supplementary picks, to complete a squad of 20.While Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Shahid Afridi and Shane Watson were the teams’ first picks, there were some relatively lesser known players who were picked during the drafts.Here is a look at five lesser known players to be picked for the league.

#1 Jim Allenby

The veteran all-rounder with over 100 games in T20s has been picked by Peshawar

The 33-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder from Australia, Jim Allenby was picked by the Peshawar Zalmi. The uncapped cricketer made his debut for Western Australia in the 2006 season but soon moved to Glamorgan before shifting to Somerset this season to play first-division cricket. In 109 T20 games, Allenby has made 2702 runs at 31.78 that includes a top score of 110 and a strike-rate of 125.

He also has an impressive bowling average of 31.73 while taking 60 wickets with best figures of 5/21. Despite his experience, he never got a chance to represent Australia, and the PSL might be the pedestal that he needs to do justice to his talent.

#2 James Vince

The star of his first series as an England batsman, Vince might just be eyeing the World T20

The 24-year-old Hampshire batsman, James Vince, who has played just one ODI and 3 T20Is for England, has loads of T20 experience in terms of 2717 runs from 103 T20 games at an average of 31.22. He has hit eight half-centuries and one century having made his T20 debut in 2010 against Gloucestershire.

He also featured in the recent T20I series for England against Pakistan and made 125 runs from 3 games at a strike-rate close to 120. He was declared the man-of-the-series for his performances having made his international debut in the beginning of the series.

The young Englishman is a bright prospect for his country and might just lay his claims for the World T20 next year if he uses this opportunity in the PSL well.

#3 Zafar Gohar

The man-of-the-match in the 1st semi-final of the U-19 World Cup 2014 might just lay his claims for the World T20

The 20-year-old Pakistani bowling all-rounder has played just one ODI in his short career, comprising 12 first-class games and 16 T20 games. He has picked up 19 wickets from those 16 games at 22.57 and has made 106 runs at a strike-rate of 141.

This is a very small sample-size for a cricketer, but given his age, and given the opportunities that T20 leagues provide to youngsters, Gohar’s career might just get a head-start this PSL. He has been picked by Lahore Qalanders.

#4 Mohammad Nabi

Having lead his country to its first World Cup win this year, Nabi is an experienced campaigner.

Afghanistan made their first appearance in the PSL drafts when their former captain Mohammad Nabi was picked by the Quetta Gladiators. Relatively experienced in the international circuit, this Afghan all-rounder hasn’t had many chances to either play against the top sides or to play in any of the domestic T20 leagues.

That is going to change this PSL season, as the 30-year-old, who featured in Afghanistan’s first victory in a World Cup game against Scotland this year, would be bowling to some of the best that the game has seen.

Nabi has played 33 T20Is scoring 433 runs at 16.65 and has picked up 29 wickets at 28.89. He fares much better as a batsman in the ODIs, averaging 30.71 for his 1382 career runs from 56 matches.

#5 Ashar Zaidi

The veteran all-rounder will be looking to contribute with both the ball and the bat

Having impressed in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) picking up 16 wickets, and scoring handy runs, Ashar Zaidi, the 34-year-old all-rounder from Pakistan, who has a British passport now, has been selected by Islamabad United to play for them this PSL season.

Having debuted in the 1999-2000 season, the first-class veteran has played 27 T20 games so far and has scored 430 runs at 28.66, besides taking 26 wickets at 18.03.

He played for the victorious Comilla Victorians side that won the BPL 2015 and played a pivotal role in guiding them to the finals of the tournament by scoring an unbeaten 40 and taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs in the semi-final.

Zaidi might very well capitalise on his recent form and help Islamabad in their campaign.