NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan Test opener Ramiz Raja has lauded the star-studded Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has rated the Twenty20 extravaganza second only to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The third PSL started in Dubai on Thursday night and Ramiz believes this edition will take PSL to even more unprecedented heights.

“The PSL 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 PSL is second only to the IPL. 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 wrote in his column for the Times of India.

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 Tanvir and Junaid Khan gives them a straight-up advantage.

“Multan Sultans is the latest addition to the PSL. It is now a six-team event. Sultans’ strategy to pick three left arm quicks in Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir 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 Tanvir and Kumar Sangakkara. It could be a good group to prop up a new side and provide calmness to the dugout.”

The addition of Sir Vivian Richards, the former West Indies captain and considered the most attacking batsman in the history of the game, 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 their 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 Ahmed. The 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 Pukhtoons: 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 Hasan Ali.

“They will be followed by Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Asghar to suppress the strikers with left arm spin. Their major problem though will be unavailability of players. Evin Lewis, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib 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,” Ramiz wrote.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018