The ninth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) concluded with Islamabad United clinching their third title, making them the most successful team in PSL history, with a 100 percent winning rate in finals. In a thrilling final match on March 18, Islamabad United defeated Multan Sultans on the last ball of the tournament. Despite Multan Sultans’ fourth consecutive final appearance, they lost their third final in a row.

PSL has always been crucial for Pakistan cricket, especially in selecting the national team. However, Pakistan’s T20 captain, Shaheen Afridi, struggled in PSL9, both as a player and leader, with his team finishing at the bottom of the table. Talks of changing the captaincy have emerged, with Mohammad Rizwan being considered a strong contender. The PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that the selection committee will decide the captaincy.

Looking ahead, Pakistan’s preparation for the T20 World Cup includes a five-match T20 series at home in April. This series is vital as Pakistan aims to build a strong squad for the upcoming tournament.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have formed one of the most successful opening partnerships for Pakistan in T20 cricket, delivering record-breaking performances and clinching victories for their team. However, following Pakistan’s defeat in the last T20 World Cup held in Australia in 2022, discussions arose regarding the need for more aggressive openers to maximise the powerplay overs. Statistically, Rizwan and Babar Azam’s strike rates in the powerplay have been under scrutiny.

The recently concluded ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League may have thrown up some concerns about the automatic Pakistan selections for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Thankfully, it has also left selectors spoilt for choice in some departments…

With the emergence of aggressive batters such as Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris in PSL and domestic cricket, many experts and former cricketers have advocated for giving these young talents a chance. Pakistan experimented with their batting order in the last series, deploying Saim Ayub as an opener and Babar Azam was pushed down to number three.

PSL9 saw Saim Ayub’s strong batting performances and a shift in Babar Azam’s approach, as he adopted a more aggressive style and effectively supported Ayub in the opening partnership. Notably, Babar Azam boasted the second-highest strike rate in the powerplay among batters who faced 50 or more balls in the tournament, with a remarkable strike rate of 148.92. Babar Azam and Saim Ayub also set records for the most 100-run opening stands and partnerships in PSL history.

Conversely, Mohammad Rizwan struggled in PSL9, acknowledging his low powerplay strike rate of 111.3. Given these performances and statistics, it seems highly probable that Babar Azam and Saim Ayub could become Pakistan’s opening pair in T20s. However, this decision presents a significant challenge for the captain and management, considering the stature and track record of Babar and Rizwan over the past few years.

In the realm of middle-order batting, there’s a widespread argument that attributes Pakistan’s weak middle order to Babar and Rizwan’s low strike rates. This became apparent in the recent series against New Zealand, where Pakistan experimented by slotting opener Sahibzada Farhan at number five, due to a shortage of T20 batting resources.

Middle-order batters often face the challenge of playing high-risk cricket, leading to inconsistent performances. Despite this, Pakistan’s management hasn’t shown much patience with them. Notably, Azam Khan, renowned for his match-winning abilities, was selected in the Pakistan team but featured in just three matches of the New Zealand series.

However, there’s a positive development in the middle-order department from the PSL — the resurgence of Iftikhar Ahmed. He showcased exceptional form, boasting the highest death overs strike rate among batters who faced 50 or more balls in the death overs. With an impressive average of 64.75 and a strike rate of 193.28, Iftikhar’s performance has been remarkable for a lower middle-order batter.

In the spin bowling department, Pakistan’s spinners faced difficulties in the Cricket World Cup 2023 and the T20 series against New Zealand. However, in the recently concluded PSL, young spinners amply showcased their talent. Usama Mir emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, becoming the first spinner to take 20-plus wickets in a single edition of the PSL. Additionally, Abrar Ahmed, a much-anticipated mystery spinner, made a significant impact with 15 wickets, displaying brilliance across all phases of the game.

However, the spotlight is on Imad Wasim’s comeback. Despite struggling in the group stage of PSL9, Imad’s exceptional performances in the knockout stage earned him three consecutive ‘Player of the Match’ awards. He also took eight wickets in three knockout stage matches, including a five-wicket haul in the final — a PSL first.

Despite retiring from international cricket, Imad has been approached by T20 captain Shaheen Shah Afridi to reconsider his retirement ahead of the T20 World Cup. Fans and colleagues are also urging him to return, to strengthen the Pakistan team as an all-rounder.

Moreover, Shadab Khan regained his form, becoming the only batter to score 300 runs and take more than 10 wickets in a single edition of the PSL, earning him the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award. Considering all these performers, making a spin combination will be another challenge for the captain and management.

The struggles of the Lahore Qalandars underscore Pakistan’s fast bowling woes, with key bowlers such as Haris Rauf and Afridi going through lean phases. Rauf’s injury during the tournament further exacerbated Lahore Qalandars’ challenges. Additionally, Zaman Khan, known for his prowess in the death overs, failed to shine this season.

However, the return of Naseem Shah from injury provided a glimmer of hope. Naseem Shah’s remarkable performance, taking 15 wickets and making significant contributions on the pitch, earned him the third spot in ESPN Cricinfo’s total impact list for the season. The Pakistan team will rely on Naseem’s comeback to bolster the bowling unit, with expectations that other fast bowlers will also regain their form after some rest.

Mohammad Ali, in his debut PSL season, emerged as a standout performer. With 19 wickets to his name, Mohammad Ali was the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers. Cricket experts and ex-cricketers believe that his impressive performance positions him as a strong contender for a place in the national side.

Despite the individual successes in various departments during this PSL season, Pakistan is yet to announce the team management, including coaches, for the national side. This presents a significant challenge for the new management, as they must carefully select the team and create the right combination ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.

The writer is a software engineer who employs data and statistics to dissect cricket intricacies with precision and insight. X: @abubakarSays

Published in Dawn, EOS, March 24th, 2024