Veteran skipper Misbahul Haq’s Islamabad United emerged winners in the inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Islamabad thrashed Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets in the title clash.
Ahmed Shehzad and Sangakkara propelled the Gladiators to a very competitive 174, scoring 64 and 55, respectively. Andre Russell and Muhammad Irfan took three and two wickets, respectively, for Islamabad.
Islamabad United wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin hit 61 runs and opener Dwayne Smith smashed 73 runs in United’s title victory. Islamabad United chased the total of 175 runs in just 18.4 overs.
After a successful maiden event, the future of Pakistan Super League looked quite bright. There is no doubt that the PSL will be very beneficial for Pakistan cricket in many ways in the years to come.
Its successful holding despite various hurdles and doubts, is definitely a big achievement on the part of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The participation of world stars like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy and top mentors like Sir Viv Richards, Andy Flower and Dean Jones played a key part in enhancing and establishing the healthy reputation of PSL.
The PSL event will have great significance for the future of Pakistani cricket. The lucrative PSL provided a wonderful opportunity to emerging as well as established cricketers to show their Twenty20 potential alongside top cricketers of the world.
India, Australia and other countries are gaining amazing potential in every department of the game through their respective T20 Leagues. And now Pakistan cricket will also enjoy the same advantage which is the real need of modern day cricket.
Overall, the first PSL edition was completed smoothly. However, a brawl between opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad and strike bowler Wahab Riaz spiced up the tournament for a while. The incident occurred in a match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on February 15. Both the players were involved in a physical fight that was interrupted by the team-mates and umpires.
The temperament flared in the fifth over of the Gladiators’ innings when Shehzad hammered Wahab for a big six. On the very next ball, the bowler shattered Shehzad’s stumps with a slower delivery and responded with a loud scream.
Perhaps Shehzad was annoyed with the way Wahab reacted after dismissing him. He raised his bat towards his Pakistan team-mate and to this Wahab uttered some words. Both pushed each other but the Zalmi players quickly intervened and prevented any further contact between the two.
Both the players were fined heavily and given a warning by the PCB for a heated on-field altercation. Shehzad was fined 30 per cent of his match fee while Wahab was penalised 40 per cent of his game earnings by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
It is interesting to note that Pakistan’s senior most cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were selected as icon players in the event, but they failed to justify their iconic stature.
Afridi, who is also skipper of national T20 cricket team, could muster only 87 runs in 10 outings. He failed to cross the 50-run mark despite having around 20-year experience of international cricket.
Shoaib Malik, another former captain, appeared in nine T20 match in the inaugural PSL event but failed to impress both as a bowler and batsman. He took a solitary wicket in the entire tournament besides scoring 157 runs that too without any 50-run knock.
Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq also struggled with the bat scoring only 166 runs with 41 being his highest score in nine matches.
Dashing batsman Umar Akmal was adjudged as the best fielder and best batsman of the tournament. The award of Most Valuable Player went to England’s Ravi Bopara while Andre Russell of West Indies capped the tournament as top wicket-taker with 16 scalps.
Ahmed Shehzad and Sangakkara propelled the Gladiators to a very competitive 174, scoring 64 and 55, respectively. Andre Russell and Muhammad Irfan took three and two wickets, respectively, for Islamabad.
Islamabad United wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin hit 61 runs and opener Dwayne Smith smashed 73 runs in United’s title victory. Islamabad United chased the total of 175 runs in just 18.4 overs.
After a successful maiden event, the future of Pakistan Super League looked quite bright. There is no doubt that the PSL will be very beneficial for Pakistan cricket in many ways in the years to come.
Its successful holding despite various hurdles and doubts, is definitely a big achievement on the part of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The participation of world stars like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy and top mentors like Sir Viv Richards, Andy Flower and Dean Jones played a key part in enhancing and establishing the healthy reputation of PSL.
The PSL event will have great significance for the future of Pakistani cricket. The lucrative PSL provided a wonderful opportunity to emerging as well as established cricketers to show their Twenty20 potential alongside top cricketers of the world.
India, Australia and other countries are gaining amazing potential in every department of the game through their respective T20 Leagues. And now Pakistan cricket will also enjoy the same advantage which is the real need of modern day cricket.
Overall, the first PSL edition was completed smoothly. However, a brawl between opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad and strike bowler Wahab Riaz spiced up the tournament for a while. The incident occurred in a match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on February 15. Both the players were involved in a physical fight that was interrupted by the team-mates and umpires.
The temperament flared in the fifth over of the Gladiators’ innings when Shehzad hammered Wahab for a big six. On the very next ball, the bowler shattered Shehzad’s stumps with a slower delivery and responded with a loud scream.
Perhaps Shehzad was annoyed with the way Wahab reacted after dismissing him. He raised his bat towards his Pakistan team-mate and to this Wahab uttered some words. Both pushed each other but the Zalmi players quickly intervened and prevented any further contact between the two.
Both the players were fined heavily and given a warning by the PCB for a heated on-field altercation. Shehzad was fined 30 per cent of his match fee while Wahab was penalised 40 per cent of his game earnings by match referee Roshan Mahanama.
It is interesting to note that Pakistan’s senior most cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were selected as icon players in the event, but they failed to justify their iconic stature.
Afridi, who is also skipper of national T20 cricket team, could muster only 87 runs in 10 outings. He failed to cross the 50-run mark despite having around 20-year experience of international cricket.
Shoaib Malik, another former captain, appeared in nine T20 match in the inaugural PSL event but failed to impress both as a bowler and batsman. He took a solitary wicket in the entire tournament besides scoring 157 runs that too without any 50-run knock.
Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq also struggled with the bat scoring only 166 runs with 41 being his highest score in nine matches.
Dashing batsman Umar Akmal was adjudged as the best fielder and best batsman of the tournament. The award of Most Valuable Player went to England’s Ravi Bopara while Andre Russell of West Indies capped the tournament as top wicket-taker with 16 scalps.
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