PSL 2016 expected final XIs and X factor players

The inaugural edition of Pakistan’s first ever international quality T20 league (PSL) is just hours away from kick-off in the UAE. Fans and the players are all excited to be part of the extravaganza. Coaches and management staff are busy burying their heads in managing out the plans and the best possible formation for their team. The league will start with the match between Misbah-ul-Haq’s Islamabad United and Sarfraz Ahmed’s Quetta Gladiators at Dubai Sports City Ground on Thursday. Five teams will play eight games each in the group stage while only four will qualify for the play-offs stage. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion.

The respective team coaches may be busy picking their best XIs but we have made it easy for them and the fans as we analyze each and every team and the X-factor player in the lineup.

Quetta Gladiators

X-factor player: Kevin Pietersen

Quetta Gladiators will be heavily reliant on the two England-internationals in their team: Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright. Both are out of contention for national selectors and both are scoring runs and runs in the T20 leagues all over the world. Ahmed Shehzad and Luke Wright will make a fine opening duo while Asad Shafiq is expected to follow in at number 3. Pietersen at 4, Mohammad Nabi at 5, Sarfraz the Captain at 6 and then the string of all-rounders will follow. Umar Gul will be the bowling spearhead with Zulfiqar Babar and Anwar Ali assisting him.

Best XI: 1. Ahmed Shehzad 2. Luke Wright 3. Asad Shafiq 4. Kevin Pietersen 5. Mohammad Nabi 6. Sarfraz Ahmed (C/WK) 7. Saad Nasim 8. Thisara Perera 9. Anwar Ali 10. Zulfiqar Babar 11. Umar Gul

Islamabad Uniteds

X-factor player: Shane Watson

The Pakistani pair of Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan is most expected to form the opening pair with Shane Watson at one down. Misbah-ul-Haq and Babar Azam will make a solid middle-order. Sam Billings and Brad Haddin will play in the late middle-order assisted by pinch-hitter Andre Russell. It is not yet confirm who will take the gloves for Islamabad but by the likes of it Brad Haddin looks like the man. Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami will form a lethal combination of both pace and bounce. Saeed Ajmal was selected as a supplementary player during the draft but I am sure the Islamabad management will work something out to get him in the team. Samuel Badree will be the spin incharge until Ajmal is back.

Best XI: 1. Khalid Latif 2. Sharjeel Khan 3. Shane Watson 4. Misbah-ul-Haq (C) 5. Babar Azam 6. Sam Billings 7. Andre Russell 8. Mohammad Sami 9. Samuel Badree 10. Kamran Ghulam 11. Mohammad Irfan

Lahore Qalandars

X-factor player: Chris Gayle

Lahore boasts the most fearsome T20 batsman as its icon player, Chris Gayle. He will open the innings with Cameron Delport. Azhar Ali, who may not seem an attractive T20 player, is the captain will bat at no. 3. Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood and Mohammad Rizwan will follow him to make an all-Pakistan middle-order. Dwayne Bravo and Hammad Azam will fill in the all-rounders spot. The bowling unit looks a bit dicey with Mustafizur Rahman and Zia-ul-Haq, both having no or marginally less international experience. However, Dwayne Bravo is most likely to serve as the leader of the bowling unit.

Best XI: 1. Chris Gayle 2. Cameron Delport 3. Azhar Ali (C) 4. Umar Akmal 5. Sohaib Maqsood 6. Mohammad Rizwan (WK) 7. Dwayne Bravo 8. Hammad Azam 9. Zafar Gohar 10. Mustafizur Rahman 11. Zia-ul-Haq

Peshawar Zalmis

X-factor player: Shahid Afridi

The duo of Afridis (Shahid – the captain and Javed – the owner) has already made Peshawar Zalmis a nation-wide hit. Kamran Akmal who is scoring plenty of runs in the domestic circuit will be opening with Tamim Iqbal. Mohammad Hafeez will follow at no. 3 with Dawid Malan at no. 4. Musadiq Ahmed and Shahid Yusuf are most likely to complete the middle-order. Shahid Afridi will bat at his usual position no. 7. Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz will make-up the bowling unit assisted by the 35-year old Abdur Rehman. Darren Sammy is also likely to make it to the final XI.

Best XI: 1. Kamran Akmal (WK) 2. Tamim Iqbal 3. Mohammad Hafeez 4. Dawid Malan 5. Musadiq Ahmed 6. Shahid Yusuf 7. Shahid Afridi (C) 8. Darren Sammy 9. Wahab Riaz 10. Abdur Rehman 11. Junaid Khan

Karachi Kings

X-factor player: Shoaib Malik

The team from Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi will be led by Shoaib Malik, probably the only proper T20 batsman alongside Ravi Bopara, Shakib Al Hasan and Lendl Simmons. A flurry of all-rounders is expected to make it to the final XI of Karachi. Shakib Al Hasan is likely to provide the acceleration in the middle-order. Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir and Bilawal Bhatti will provide options with both and bowl to the captain. The bowling unit will be highly dependent on Mohammad Amir who will be the leader of the pack. Usama Mir who has impressed many recently will try to make it count on the big stage with his leg-breaks.

Best XI: 1. Lendl Simmons 2. Nauman Anwar 3. Ravi Bopara 4. Shoaib Malik (C) 5. Shakib Al Hasan 6. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK) 7. Imad Wasim 8. Bilawal Bhatti 8. Sohail Tanvir 10. Mohammad Amir 11. Usama Mir