Pakistan Super League second only to IPL: Ramiz Raja
The third edition of the PSL gets underway today and Ramiz believes this edition will take PSL to even more unprecedented heights.
Created - 6 years ago
NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan batsman turned commentator Ramiz Raja has lauded the star-studded Pakistan Super League and has rated the T20 extravaganza second only to the bumper T20 attraction IPL. The third edition of the PSL gets underway today and Ramiz believes this edition will take PSL to even more unprecedented heights.
“Pakistan Super League has been a success story from all angles. Every year the player profile keeps increasing and improving and money keeps pouring in. Making their debuts in PSL 3 and vying for attention will be Chris Lynn, Colin Ingram and Jofra Archer. In per-match ratio term Pakistan Super League is second only to Indian Premier League. As the ride takes us into year three, you will get to see a larger canvas of players, a new team making an appearance and potential greats trying to outdo the known performers,” Ramiz, who played 57 Tests and 198 ODIs for Pakistan, wrote in his column for TOI.
Comprising five teams in the previous two editions, the addition of a sixth franchise, Multan Sultans promises to spice up the event. According to Ramiz, the addition of a formidable three-pronged left-arm pace battery that includes Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanveer and Junaid Khan gives them a straight-up advantage.
“Multan Sultans is the latest addition to the Pakistan Super League. It is now a six team event. Sultans’ strategy to pick three left arm quicks in Mohd. Irfan, Sohail Tanveer and Junaid Khan is an interesting one. This choice of angle though can be a double- edged sword. It is a plot bordering on lack of variety and as such a predictable line for opposition strikers to target and make hay with little effort,” Ramiz said.
“The spin cupboard however seems bare and shows inexperience with just Imran Tahir to lend help and hope. They have as strength, players who have international league experience in Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, who will captain them, Sohail Tanveer and Kumar Sangakkara. It could be a good group to prop up a new side and provide calmness to the dugout.”
The addition of former West Indies captain and considered the most attacking batsman in the history of the game, Viv Richards as the mentor of Quetta Gladiators bodes well for the franchise that has reached the final of the PSL in its previous two editions.
“Quetta Gladiators have Viv Richards as a mentor and that’s where they beat the rest of the field as you couldn’t head hunt a greater sage than the great man. He has been an inspiration for Gladiators and has worked well with captain Sarfraz Ahmad. Quetta Gladiators have been the finalist in both the PSLs. Their win percentage is best for any team and this could be a result of a consistent team selection. Their three major overseas players Watson, Pietersen and Rossouw are available throughout the tournament which is an added advantage. They also have two of the world’s most exciting T20 stars in Rashid Khan and Jofra Archer, albeit for a few matches. Jofra was a steal for a few thousand grand, as a replacement player after being sold for $1.1 million at the IPL,” Ramiz said.
Defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi, led by the two-time World T20 winning captain Darren Sammy, start as favourites. Possessing a lethal bowling attack, the franchise will be extremely tough to overcome.
“Peshawar Zalmi are the current champions of the Pakistan Super League. The word Zalmi is a Pashto language word meaning youth. From the logo of the team which is a fusion of traditional Peshawari turban with cricket stumps to performance, Zalmi’s are every bit Puktoons: proud and hard working, playing with a never-say die approach and youthfully entertaining,” Ramiz said.
“Sammy, their captain, had become the toast of the nation when he braved security to travel to Lahore and won the title without Shahid Afridi, who sat out injured. Peshawar’s strength is in its bowling. Wahab Riaz is the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 30 wickets and he will share the spoils with Pakistan’s latest poster boy Hassan Ali. They will be followed by Shakib-Al-Hasan and Muhammad Asghar to suppress the strikers with left arm spin. Their major problem though will be unavailability of players. Evin Lewis, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib-Al-Hasan will be partly available. Another headache will be to find and field an all-rounder in the playing XI since Afridi has moved to Karachi Kings and Sammy has shown reluctance to bowl.”
“Pakistan Super League has been a success story from all angles. Every year the player profile keeps increasing and improving and money keeps pouring in. Making their debuts in PSL 3 and vying for attention will be Chris Lynn, Colin Ingram and Jofra Archer. In per-match ratio term Pakistan Super League is second only to Indian Premier League. As the ride takes us into year three, you will get to see a larger canvas of players, a new team making an appearance and potential greats trying to outdo the known performers,” Ramiz, who played 57 Tests and 198 ODIs for Pakistan, wrote in his column for TOI.
Comprising five teams in the previous two editions, the addition of a sixth franchise, Multan Sultans promises to spice up the event. According to Ramiz, the addition of a formidable three-pronged left-arm pace battery that includes Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanveer and Junaid Khan gives them a straight-up advantage.
“Multan Sultans is the latest addition to the Pakistan Super League. It is now a six team event. Sultans’ strategy to pick three left arm quicks in Mohd. Irfan, Sohail Tanveer and Junaid Khan is an interesting one. This choice of angle though can be a double- edged sword. It is a plot bordering on lack of variety and as such a predictable line for opposition strikers to target and make hay with little effort,” Ramiz said.
“The spin cupboard however seems bare and shows inexperience with just Imran Tahir to lend help and hope. They have as strength, players who have international league experience in Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, who will captain them, Sohail Tanveer and Kumar Sangakkara. It could be a good group to prop up a new side and provide calmness to the dugout.”
The addition of former West Indies captain and considered the most attacking batsman in the history of the game, Viv Richards as the mentor of Quetta Gladiators bodes well for the franchise that has reached the final of the PSL in its previous two editions.
“Quetta Gladiators have Viv Richards as a mentor and that’s where they beat the rest of the field as you couldn’t head hunt a greater sage than the great man. He has been an inspiration for Gladiators and has worked well with captain Sarfraz Ahmad. Quetta Gladiators have been the finalist in both the PSLs. Their win percentage is best for any team and this could be a result of a consistent team selection. Their three major overseas players Watson, Pietersen and Rossouw are available throughout the tournament which is an added advantage. They also have two of the world’s most exciting T20 stars in Rashid Khan and Jofra Archer, albeit for a few matches. Jofra was a steal for a few thousand grand, as a replacement player after being sold for $1.1 million at the IPL,” Ramiz said.
Defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi, led by the two-time World T20 winning captain Darren Sammy, start as favourites. Possessing a lethal bowling attack, the franchise will be extremely tough to overcome.
“Peshawar Zalmi are the current champions of the Pakistan Super League. The word Zalmi is a Pashto language word meaning youth. From the logo of the team which is a fusion of traditional Peshawari turban with cricket stumps to performance, Zalmi’s are every bit Puktoons: proud and hard working, playing with a never-say die approach and youthfully entertaining,” Ramiz said.
“Sammy, their captain, had become the toast of the nation when he braved security to travel to Lahore and won the title without Shahid Afridi, who sat out injured. Peshawar’s strength is in its bowling. Wahab Riaz is the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 30 wickets and he will share the spoils with Pakistan’s latest poster boy Hassan Ali. They will be followed by Shakib-Al-Hasan and Muhammad Asghar to suppress the strikers with left arm spin. Their major problem though will be unavailability of players. Evin Lewis, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib-Al-Hasan will be partly available. Another headache will be to find and field an all-rounder in the playing XI since Afridi has moved to Karachi Kings and Sammy has shown reluctance to bowl.”
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