The successful hosting of eight matches of the fourth season of the Pakistan Super League itself carries much significance. That the side from Quetta won the league adds much symbolism.
Notwithstanding the significance of the hosting of the event, or the symbolism attached to the victor’s name, PSL 4 was an absolute extravaganza of quality cricket, played out by some of the topmost Pakistani and international athletes.
For Quetta Gladiators, the win is the culmination of a four-season struggle. For much of the past three seasons they’ve been the top PSL side without a trophy to show for it. They’ve now played three of the four finals – but only just won their first PSL trophy.
In the inaugural season, they were easily the best side in the league, but were undone by a resurgent Islamabad United in the final. In the second season, they once again dominated the league format but lost to a full-strength Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium, after Gladiators’ overseas contingent refused to come to Pakistan. In the third season, they once again had to deal with the loss of big names like Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson, as Zalmi edged them out in the first Eliminator at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Now, finally, Sarfraz Ahmed, Viv Richards and Moin Khan have their hands on the trophy that they’ve worked four seasons for. In these four seasons, they’ve unearthed numerous players for Pakistan, beginning with Mohammad Nawaz and most recently Mohammad Hasnain, who has been selected for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Gladiators’ have also facilitated Umar Akmal’s latest comeback into the national side.
The Gladiators’ success is built on a meticulous think-tank, with Sarfraz a major influence on both the franchise and Pakistan’s national T20 side. He is without a doubt one of the best captains the T20 format has ever seen.
Ahmed Shehzad has been a consistent for Quetta throughout the four seasons, along with Mohammad Nawaz. This season the Gladiators’ owe a lot of their success to the runs scored by their top and middle order including Shehzad, Akmal, the youngster Ahsan Ali, Rilee Rossouw and most of all, the Player of the Tournament, and the top run-getter Shane Watson.
Watson’s presence wasn’t just massive for Gladiators’ chances in the Karachi leg, it was huge for the league itself and indeed for the continued struggle to resume international cricket in Pakistan.
With Pakistan set to host Australia in the five match ODI series starting today (Friday) in the UAE, the country is closer to hosting its upcoming opponents than it has been for the past decade.
Squad for the Australia series: Shoaib Malik(c), Abid Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas , Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Ali, Shan Masood, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Hasnain
Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi have all been given a well-deserved rest for this series. What that means is that there is opportunity for the likes of Abid Ali, Umar Akmal, Saad Ali and Mohammad Hasnain to make their mark. In fact, realistically everyone in the 16-man squad for the Australia series would be fighting for a place in the World Cup squad, barring perhaps Shoaib Malik.
Pakistan play England in May before the start of the ODI World Cup, which would be treated by the management as a dress rehearsal for the major event. Hence, this is the final chance for the players to put forward their name, and for the team management to finalize their squad, before the World Cup.
Notwithstanding the significance of the hosting of the event, or the symbolism attached to the victor’s name, PSL 4 was an absolute extravaganza of quality cricket, played out by some of the topmost Pakistani and international athletes.
For Quetta Gladiators, the win is the culmination of a four-season struggle. For much of the past three seasons they’ve been the top PSL side without a trophy to show for it. They’ve now played three of the four finals – but only just won their first PSL trophy.
In the inaugural season, they were easily the best side in the league, but were undone by a resurgent Islamabad United in the final. In the second season, they once again dominated the league format but lost to a full-strength Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium, after Gladiators’ overseas contingent refused to come to Pakistan. In the third season, they once again had to deal with the loss of big names like Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson, as Zalmi edged them out in the first Eliminator at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The Gladiators’ success is built on a meticulous think-tank, with Sarfraz a major influence on the side
Now, finally, Sarfraz Ahmed, Viv Richards and Moin Khan have their hands on the trophy that they’ve worked four seasons for. In these four seasons, they’ve unearthed numerous players for Pakistan, beginning with Mohammad Nawaz and most recently Mohammad Hasnain, who has been selected for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Gladiators’ have also facilitated Umar Akmal’s latest comeback into the national side.
The Gladiators’ success is built on a meticulous think-tank, with Sarfraz a major influence on both the franchise and Pakistan’s national T20 side. He is without a doubt one of the best captains the T20 format has ever seen.
Ahmed Shehzad has been a consistent for Quetta throughout the four seasons, along with Mohammad Nawaz. This season the Gladiators’ owe a lot of their success to the runs scored by their top and middle order including Shehzad, Akmal, the youngster Ahsan Ali, Rilee Rossouw and most of all, the Player of the Tournament, and the top run-getter Shane Watson.
Watson’s presence wasn’t just massive for Gladiators’ chances in the Karachi leg, it was huge for the league itself and indeed for the continued struggle to resume international cricket in Pakistan.
With Pakistan set to host Australia in the five match ODI series starting today (Friday) in the UAE, the country is closer to hosting its upcoming opponents than it has been for the past decade.
Squad for the Australia series: Shoaib Malik(c), Abid Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas , Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Ali, Shan Masood, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Hasnain
Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi have all been given a well-deserved rest for this series. What that means is that there is opportunity for the likes of Abid Ali, Umar Akmal, Saad Ali and Mohammad Hasnain to make their mark. In fact, realistically everyone in the 16-man squad for the Australia series would be fighting for a place in the World Cup squad, barring perhaps Shoaib Malik.
Pakistan play England in May before the start of the ODI World Cup, which would be treated by the management as a dress rehearsal for the major event. Hence, this is the final chance for the players to put forward their name, and for the team management to finalize their squad, before the World Cup.