Sports Bulletin

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (March 10, 2021):-Former cricketers from different nations associated with Peshawar Zalmi met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday in his office at Rawalpindi. According to a press release, Daren Julius Garvey Sammy- former West Indian Cricketer, Hashim Mahomed Amla-Former South African Cricketer, Mohammad Akram-former Pakistani Cricketer and Javed Afridi-owner of Peshawar Zalmi franchise were the part of deligation. On this occasion, COAS appreciated the dignitaries for their contributions for bringing international cricket to Pakistan and being the ambassadors of peace. Qamar Bajwa also congratulated the cricketers on success and growth of Pakistan Super League (PSL) and hoped that it recommences early for much awaited jubilation of entire country. Visiting dignitaries also shared experience of their visits to different parts of Pakistan and seeing Pakistan as a beautiful and peaceful country.

By Bipin Dani  Bowler comes under more pressure after four and five sixes are hit in his one over successively, according to David Furlonge, the coach of the West Indies captain Kieron Pollard whose six sixes in an over trumped Akila's hat-trick in a crazy chase on Thursday.   Speaking exclusively over the telephone, he said, "I think both-hitting six sixes in one over by a batsman or grabbing a hat-trick by any bowler-are incredible but as a bowler you would be under more pressure especially after the fourth and fifth six". "It was fantastic to watch from his Super 50 performance last week. I knew he would hit the spinners for some sixes but never thought six sixes, it was fantastic to watch", Furlonge, who has been Pollard's coach since he was 14 years, said.  "In a low scoring affair and the status of the game when he came in he took whatever chance Sri Lanka had of winning the game away from them in that over so he deserved the Player of the Match award" "Sri Lanka didn’t make enough runs and all that was needed would be one or two 20 run partnerships", the coach concluded. 

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (March 5, 2021):-The selection committee of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) headed by Mohammad Bilal Satti on Friday named 15-man squad  for the upcoming Tri-nation series, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from April 2to 8, this year 2021. Masood Jan and Ibrar Shah were other two members of selection committee that announced the national team after the approval of Chairman PBCC, Syed Sultan Shah. Committee also picked up four reserves players for the said series. Team is a blend of seniors and juniors guys. Two new players have been inducted in the side including Mohammad Safdar, an emerging B3 player from the far-flung area of Dera Ghazi Khan and Mohammed Tehsin, a B1 player from Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). All four reserve players are also featuring for the first time in the national side. Niamat Ullah and Naseeb Ullah are from Quetta, while Akmal Hayat is from Islamabad and Ahtesham ul Haq is from Attock. Names of players: 1. Riasat Khan B1 2. Zafar Iqbal (Vice Captain) B1 3. Sajid Nawaz B1 4. Mohammad Shahzaib B1 5. Mohammed Tehsin B1 6. Nisar Ali (Captain) B2 7. Badar Munir B2 8. Mati Ullah B2 9. Moain Aslam B2 10. Anees Javed B2 11. Shahzaib Haider B2 12. Mohammad Rashid B3 13. Mohsin Khan B3 14. Sana Ullah Khan Marwat B3 15. Mohammad Safdar B3 Reserve Players: 16. Akmal Hayat B3 17. Naseeb Ullah B2 18. Ahtesham ul Haq B2 19. Niamat Ullah B2 Team Officials: 20. Anwar Ali (Team Manager) 21. Mohammad Jamil (Coach) 22. Maher Mohammad Yousaf Haroon (Assistant Coach) 23. Tahir Mehmood Butt (Trainer) 24. Atif Qayoum (Analyst)

By Bipin Dani Afghanistani opener Abdul Malik's Test debut on Wednesday (against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi) was not a memorable one.  The right hand batsman, who will turn 23 next week joined the company of KR Rutherford (NZ v WI Port-of-Spain 1985), Saeed Anwar (Pak v WI Faisalabad 1990), DP Viljoen (Zim v Pak Bulawayo 1998) and R Chandrika (WI v Aus Kingston 2015) and became the 5th player to beg a "pair" on Test debut as opener.  "I can definitely relate to what he is feeling. I have no doubt he has worked extremely hard to gain selection and would probably be feeling that he has let his team down and is not good enough to play at Test level", the former left-hand batsman, Dirk Viljoen, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Zimbabwe, said.  The victim further adds : "My advice to him is to trust the system. Know that he was selected cause the selectors believe in him. The result today is part of being a mature cricketer. It takes time. Keep working hard and learn from this experience. It will make you stronger mentally. He will get more chances to showcase his skills".  "Unfortunately as batsmen, people record when you get a pair. But if a Test bowler on debut bowled in 2 innings and didn't get a wicket, is that recorded as a pair?  No it is not", he further added.   

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 4, 2021):-The Board of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken a significant step toward ensuring cricket is a game for everyone with the appointment of Cindy Butts to establish and chair the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which will examine issues relating to race and equity in the game. Butts has extensive experience in senior roles spanning governance, inclusion and equity across the justice/policing sectors and Government. Her current roles include serving as a lay member of the House of Lords Conduct Committee, a lay member of the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and as Panel Chair for the Judicial Appointments Commission. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Kick It Out, the organisation for equality and inclusion in English football. Previously, she held roles as the Deputy Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority and as a Commissioner at the Criminal Cases Review Commission. As Chair, Butts will work with the ECB Board to finalise the terms of reference for the Commission. She will lead the process to appoint a number of independent Commissioners who will bring further diversity of thought, background and experience to the Commission, providing constructive input and challenge to the ECB and the wider game. The Commission, whose formation was announced in November 2020, will independently gather and assess the evidence of inequalities and discrimination of all forms within cricket and identify the actions the ECB will need to take to tackle these issues. It is known as the Commission for Equity in Cricket, in recognition that different groups of people face different access issues or barriers. The Commission will act with complete independence, examining any evidence it deems relevant and making the recommendations it considers necessary. The Board’s engagement with the Commission will be led by the ECB’s Senior Independent Director, Brenda Trenowden, who is driving the Board’s work in the area of equality, diversity and inclusion. Ian Watmore, Chair of the ECB, said: “The creation of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket is an important step in our ambition to make cricket a game for everyone. Cindy is extremely well-qualified to lead this work and will bring empathy, rigour and practical experience to the deliberations and recommendations of the Commission.” Cindy Butts said: “I’m excited to be bringing together my lifelong love of cricket with my passion for equity and inclusion, to lead this work for the ECB. Over the coming months we will be looking to hear from a wide range of people who share a love of cricket, whether as spectators, players, coaches or administrators both present and past. “While it’s important we preserve the best of cricket’s traditions, it is also important we identify ways it can evolve and innovate to attract and welcome diverse communities who can make an impact in all areas and at all levels of the game. “I am committed to ensuring that cricket has a bright future in this country.” Brenda Trenowden CBE, Senior Independent Director of the ECB Board, added: “Promoting equity, diversity and inclusion across the game is critical to the success of our game-wide strategy, Inspiring Generations, and our purpose of connecting communities through cricket. “Whilst we have taken a number of positive steps forward over recent years, we recognise that there is still a lot of work to do in this area. The Commission will play a valuable role in helping us to really listen and understand the reality of the inclusion challenges in the game, so that we can focus our efforts to ensure that more people can say that cricket is a game for me.”

HAMMAD AHMED KAYANI KARACHI (March 4, 2021):-Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 with immediate effect. The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which had started on 20 February. The PCB, as an immediate step, will focus on the safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Director – Commercial and Babar Hamid, will hold a media conference at the National Stadium at 3pm to provide further updates. Due to limited space in the press conference room, TV camerapersons are not allowed and the press conference will be live-streamed on the PCB YouTube Channel.

SPORTS REPORT LAHORE (February 24, 2020):-PCB Test Cricketer of the year 2020, Mohammad Rizwan, has been promoted to Category A of the PCB’s Central Contract List 2020-21 following stellar performances across all formats in the ongoing season. In the elite category, the 28-year-old has now joined Pakistan captain Babar Azam, former captain Azhar Ali and star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. Since the current central contracts were announced on 13 May 2020, Rizwan is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Tests with 529 runs in seven matches at an average of 52.90, while he is overall the third leading run-scorer in T20Is with 325 runs at an average of 65 and strike-rate of just under 139. In the three ODIs against Zimbabwe, he scored 25 runs. Behind the wickets, Rizwan has accounted for 16 batsmen in Tests, three in ODIs and eight in T20Is in the season during which Pakistan played international cricket against England, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and South Africa. Their upcoming assignments are in South Africa and Zimbabwe. As part of its policy to acknowledge, incentivise and reward high-performing cricketers, the PCB has also elevated Fawad Alam from A+ domestic contract category to Category C of the PCB Central Contract List 2020-21, while it also offered Category C contract to T20I specialist Mohammad Hafeez, which he politely turned down. Fawad Alam scored centuries against New Zealand and South Africa, and has now aggregated 320 runs in 11 innings of six Tests. His 102 against New Zealand in the Boxing Day Test earned him the PCB Individual Performance of 2020 award. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “I want to congratulate Rizwan and Fawad for earning well-deserved and well-earned promotions. This is a reward for their hard work and high-quality performances during the difficult and challenging bio-secure environments that tested their determination, resolve, commitment, mental toughness and physical fitness to the limits. “The decision to promote the players was made during a meeting with the Chair of the Selection Committee, Muhammad Wasim, while we were reviewing player performances in the 2020-21 season and discussing the upcoming commitments. “It was agreed during the meeting that three players were the most deserving and outstanding performers in the season to date and, as such, they needed to be rewarded now instead of waiting for the time when PCB Central Contract List for 2021-22 will be reviewed and announced. “However, Mohammad Hafeez declined the reward and while I am disappointed, I fully respect his decision. He wants to wait for the PCB Central Contract 2021-22 list, which he is fully entitled to. Hafeez has been one of our star performers of the season and we hope he will carry the form and momentum to Africa. “I am sure this merit and performance-based decision will once again send out a loud and clear message to all professional cricketers that the PCB will not only recognise, appreciate and acknowledge their performances and achievements, but will also reward them so that they can strive to do better next time.” Updated PCB Men’s Central Contract List for 2020-21: Category A - Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Babar Azam (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Category B - Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Asad Shafiq (Sindh), Haris Sohail (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Shadab Khan (Northern), Shan Masood (Southern Punjab) and Yasir Shah (Balochistan) Category C - Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imad Wasim (Northern), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab) and Usman Shinwari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Emerging Players’ Category - Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern) and Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh)

Hammad Ahmed Kayani KARACH (February 24, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has praised the High Performance department for leading the successful completion of their events calendar for the 2020-21 season, which also contributed in the staging of international cricket, hosting the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 and achieving commercial targets during the unprecedented, highly challenging, and difficult Covid-19 pandemic. Mani, who also chairs the ICC’s influential Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, highlighted the economic activity that took place due to domestic cricket and the opportunities that were created for budding youngsters to grow, develop and make themselves available for bigger challenges. The High Performance department’s 2020-21 domestic events had started on 30 September 2020 with the First XI National T20 Cup and concluded with the final of the PCB U16 National One-Day Tournament on 23 February in Multan and Rawalpindi, respectively. In the period from 30 September to 23 February, the revamped and restructured High Performance department, under a fresh and proactive leadership planned and, with the help of all the support departments, delivered nine successful tournaments that comprised a total of 220 matches. The 220 age-group to first-class matches were in addition to the High Performance department’s other initiatives, including assessment, evaluation and appointments of local coaches and match officials, preparation of a national cricket framework strategy, holding of countrywide coaching clinics, nationwide open trials for Under-19 and Under-16 events, rehabilitation programmes and the recently-concluded Pakistan Under-19 camp for next year’s ICC U19 Cricket World Cup West Indies 2022. By staging an extended domestic cricket, the High Performance department created employment opportunities for domestic contracted cricketers who featured through the season are expected to earn between PKR2.5million and PKR3.8million through contracts, daily allowances and match fees. Similarly, domestic cricket also generated economic activity as sports equipment and clothing manufacturers, travel and hotel industries continued to operate on a business-as-usual basis during a time when the world saw major organisations opting for layoffs or salary cuts. In the hotel industry alone, the PCB used 23,316 bed nights across seven luxury hotels during the five-month period where the players and match officials were lodged for the First and Second XI National T20 and Pakistan Cup, three and four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, PCB National U19 three-day and one-day tournaments, and PCB U16 National One-Day Tournament. Ehsan Mani said: “This is a monumental achievement by the High Performance department to successfully deliver 220 matches across nine events. When presentation on the 2020-21 domestic season was made in September, it looked like an over-ambitious and a nearly impossible objective because of all the challenges and difficulties that were posed by the evolving and uncertain Covid-19 pandemic. “But the cricket operations, medical teams, security, finance, HR and marketing departments and the logistics wings of the PCB got together to ensure High Performance department’s targets of successfully delivering a complete 2020-21 season were achieved. This is a matter of great pride for the PCB that has significantly enhanced its image and profile globally. “The leadership provided by the High Performance department, which was excellently and thoroughly supported by all the players and match officials during the Covid-19 pandemic, truly reflected the nation’s passion for this great game and rightly summed up the season’s #HarHaalMainCricket hashtag. “Through a strategic marketing plan, that included 55 broadcast matches and aggressive new media coverage that was supported by the traditional media, the PCB demonstrated to the world that Pakistan was capable of creating a safe and healthy environment for cricket. This played a supporting role in convincing Zimbabwe and South Africa to play international cricket in Pakistan and also gave the confidence and encouragement to more than 75 foreign players and coaches to participate in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League 2021. “Through these events, the PCB was also able to exploit its commercial programme and partner with leading sport networks besides attracting prestigious and world renowned multinational companies. The PCB, for the first time in its history, is on the verge of formally announcing the appointments of Principal Sponsors for the six Cricket Associations, which is a testament to the attractive brand our revamped domestic cricket has become within two years. All the revenues generated from these partnerships will be reinvested into cricket so that the PCB can provide even better opportunities and facilities to our talented cricketers in the coming seasons. “The domestic season also created earning opportunities for our cricketers and match officials, while also enabling the economic wheel across various industries to continue to move at a time when major organisations either went for layoffs or pay-cuts. “The quality of the domestic events was from the top draw. During the five-month period, the competitions provided uninterrupted, exciting and thrilling cricket that was not only enjoyed by all the participants but also attracted new fans, who followed the proceedings on our various digital platforms in the absence of the crowds, and kept the interest and involvement of the local media alive. “Apart from the PCB staff, I will like to congratulate and thank all the players, player support personnel and match officials who stayed away from their families and friends to spent extended periods in bio-secure bubbles. The PCB appreciates and acknowledges their sacrifices and hopes the 2021-22 season will not test all these athletes like the 2020-21 season.”

HAMMAD AHMED KAYANI KARACHI (February 18, 2021):-There are a number of top players featuring in HBL Pakistan Super League 2021, but we have selected one player from each side who can prove critical and decisive in his side’s quest for the biggest prize in Pakistan cricket’s marquee’s event. Azam Khan (Quetta Gladiators) Azam Khan can be the next big thing from HBL PSL 2021. He has been on the selectors’ radars, who think he can give Pakistan the much-needed power-hitting in the middle and late overs of a Twenty20 International. However, Azam needs to attain complete fitness and a good show in the HBL PSL 2021 that can edge him closer to Pakistan’s ranks. Two years ago when Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar announced Azam could be Pakistani Chris Gayle, very few people took him seriously but those who had watched Azam’s clean hitting believed him. Azam has a pedigree for being World Cup winner, all he needs to do is to match the hard work of his father Moin Khan, known for being one of the fittest cricketers ever to represent Pakistan. Azam played in just one match, scoring 12 runs in the HBL PSL 2019. But, the 2020 edition highlighted his talent as he thrilled the Karachi crowd with a blistering 33-ball 59 against Islamabad United. Although he ended up with a not-so-prominent 150 runs in the tournament, he demonstrated he had the talent to go places. Azam can hit big and long. The best thing about him is that he remains nonchalant, never caring who the bowler is.  After hitting a six, he never shows his emotions or excitement as if that is just his habit. Watch out for Azam. He knows how to hit it big. Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) “I see Babar Azam is batting on a different pitch to everyone else .... Class!”, remarked former England captain and reputed commentator Nasser Hussain last year. His fractured thumb had deprived fans in New Zealand of his artistry at the batting crease last year and they lament that.  But the thumb is back in shape, a big thumbs up for the fans to watch the best of Babar in HBL PSL VI. Pakistan all-format skipper is touted around the world. He plays it late, plays it to perfect timing, like a Swiss watch, and leaves bowlers in a state of hypnotism as to how easily he dispatches the ball to the boundary. Till recently, he was the only batsman at international level to be in the top-five rankings in all three formats. Just like Pakistan look to Babar for runs, Karachi Kings will depend on him to give solid starts. He has represented Karachi Kings in all but the first edition in 2016, when he was with Islamabad United. Babar’s 473 in 12 matches at 59.12 and at a strike-rate of 124 formed the basis of Karachi Kings clinching the title last year. He eased them to the title with a solid half-century in the final. With 1,516 in 47 matches at 37.90 and at a strike-rate of 118, Babar is only second behind cousin Kamran Akmal in scoring most runs in HBL PSL history. Fans are in for a treat as Babar promises to be one to watch out for in HBL PSL VI. Haider Ali (Peshawar Zalmi) Haider Ali, the former Pakistan U19 star batsman, is another player who has made it big through the HBL Pakistan Super League. The Attock-born managed 239 runs in 10 innings at an average of 26.55 in the 2020 edition, that caught the attention of then chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq with his astronomical strike rate of 157.23. Haider was selected for Pakistan’s tour of England and when he was given a chance in the third and final Twenty20 International, he made an instant impact, smashing a 33-ball 54. That became the highest score by a Pakistani on a T20I debut. Haider has the talent, in fact, he is loaded with talent and when he bats, he literally makes it look simple and easy. Haider has the power to clear any boundary and he has shown this trait to the hilt at international level as well. Anything short or anything pitched up, Haider hurries into a shot and clears the boundary. Fans love those who hit big and long and Haider is also getting popularity amongst Pakistani fans for this ability. Pakistan tried Haider as an opener in the last T20I against South Africa. Peshawar Zalmi can also use that ploy to get a robust start. Hasan Ali (Islamabad United) Hasan Ali is truly a product of HBL Pakistan Super League. He was inducted in the Peshawar Zalmi squad as an Emerging Player in the inaugural edition in 2016. Next season, he grabbed 12 wickets in 11 matches to herald his arrival. Just over a year, Hasan became a star with a stellar Player of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 award, helping Pakistan to the title. Hasan’s name was everywhere as he was the main wicket-taker in middle overs of a one-day match. Hasan has progressed by leaps and bounds. Soon after an unimpressive ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, Hasan had a spate of injuries that kept him out of action. He, though, returned with a bang, collecting the Player of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy award with 43 wickets and 273 runs that included a fighting century in the final that resulted in the first-ever tied first-class final. Once back in Pakistan fold, Hasan was at his superb best. He helped Pakistan win the second Test with a maiden 10-wicket haul in Rawalpindi. He was again the star for Pakistan in the third and final Twenty20 International in Lahore, claiming two wickets and then hit two sixes and a boundary in the penultimate over to anchor the win. Fans love his celebration style, imitating a generator exploding to power as he pumps the blasting machine. After five seasons with Peshawar, Hasan has now joined Islamabad United for HBL PSL 2021. His induction will be key to change the fortunes of two-time champions, who finished an abysmal sixth last year. Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) Mohammad Rizwan is in the form of his life. Everything his bat touches, turns into gold. He has shown in all three formats that he can be a destructive player. Rizwan was never regarded as a player for the shortest format before last year. That was evident in his non-selection for Karachi Kings in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020. Critics believed his inability to hit sixes was a major reason for him being benched on most occasions. But since he was inducted in the Pakistan team on the tour of Australia in 2019 and then to England last year, Rizwan’s luck and status have changed. He has been the leading run-getter for Pakistan. This ultimately earned him the PCB Test Cricketer of 2020 award. Admirably, he transformed his longer format form into the shortest one with aplomb and aggression. It started at Napier where he castigated the best New Zealand bowlers at will, scoring 89 runs in a consolation win. He continued as an opener in the T20I series against South Africa. Rizwan made that series his own, cracking a maiden undefeated hundred in the opening match and followed it up with scores of 51 and 42 – a total of 197 in Pakistan's series win. That richly earned him the Player of the Series award. Taking stock of his rich form, Multan Sultans took a bold decision to appoint him as captain. He has the experience of leading Pakistan in New Zealand. Rizwan is expected to take that responsibility in his strides and take the attack to the bowlers. He has form in support and the will to prove his HBL Pakistan Super League detractors wrong. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) The lanky paceman has made a name for himself. He is the lynchpin in Lahore Qalandars’ attack as he is for Pakistan in international matches. Shaheen can make the ball dance to the tunes of his left hand. His height is an added advantage, bombarding lethal yorkers and ferocious bouncers. It was a story of “he came, he saw, he conquered” for Shaheen in 2018. He devastated Multan Sultans with unbelievable figures of five for four, and next month he was in Pakistan team playing against the West Indies in the home Twenty20 series. Since then he has become an all-format, go-to-bowler for Pakistan. He was in superb form in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, grabbing 16 wickets in just five games. When the entire HBL Pakistan Super League was played in Pakistan last year, Shaheen was in a starring role for Lahore Qalandars, taking 17 wickets – the most in the league. His devastating bowling helped Lahore finish runner-up. This year too, Shaheen will be the stand out bowler for his team and fans will continue to watch his typical style of celebration, arms wide apart and both index fingers up.

HAMMAD KAYANI KARACHI (February 17, 2021):-Peshawar Zalmi is one of the most loved franchises in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL). They have been one of the four title-winners in the history of the tournament. Their journey in the HBL PSL has been a fairytale to say the least because of the style that they display on the field. Alongside Karachi Kings, Zalmi are the only side to have qualified for the play-offs in all five editions of the tournament. They won the tournament in 2017 and are likely to make a big splash in the 2021 edition as well. The franchise has had some of the most popular players to have featured for them in the four editions of the tournament that were played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The expat pathans would come to watch the ever-green Shahid Afridi and the two-time T20 World Cup winning West Indies captain Daren Sammy. Even in the last edition, Zalmi were the crowd favourites because of the pull they have with the quality of players in their line-up.  Afridi is now plying his trade with Multan Sultans, while Sammy is now in the role of a head coach, leaving speed merchant Wahab Riaz in charge as the leader of the franchise. The franchise also has the two most experienced T20 specialists in Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal featuring alongside Wahab. Kamran is the most successful run-getter in the HBL PSL history with 1,537 runs from 56 matches and has also struck three centuries – most in the tournament's history. But, his form in the 2020 edition left a lot to be desired as he scored just 251 runs in spite of striking a hundred in the league phase. Malik on the other hand struck three half-centuries in the 2020 event. To complement the experienced trio in Malik, Kamran and Riaz, is the young Haider Ali who is already marked as the generation's next star. Haider scored 239 runs in the last edition. Now having featured for Pakistan in international cricket, Haider is expected to make a big impact this season. The 2020 disappointment for Zalmi can be pinned on the foreign recruits’ less than positive returns. England’s Tom Banton was brought for his reputation in the T20 Blast with the county side Somerset, but he came a cropper on the slow pitches, managing just 74 in seven matches. The other English pair of Liam Livingstone and Liam Dawson were also not as successful as before in the previous editions of HBL PSL. Top-order Yorkshire batsman Tom-Kohler Cadmore has replaced Liam Livingstone who was drafted into England T20 side for the India tour. This year, Peshawar will have the big striking South African David Miller but only for the later stages of the tournament as he has some domestic cricket commitments. Another player to watch out will be Sherfane Rutherford of West Indies who is an excellent finisher. Fast-rising all-rounder Amad Butt, lanky Mohammad Irfan and experienced Umaid Asif will form the core of the pace attack led by Wahab, who is also the leading wicket-taker in the history of HBL PSL with 76 in 55 matches. English pacer Saqib Mahmood is the other vital cog in the fast bowling attack. In addition, the Zalmi franchises also have some exciting fast bowlers in Pakistan U19 star Mohammad Amir Khan, who stole the show with his pace at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020. Imran Randhawa with his swinging yorkers will also be in focus this season. However, the exit of Hasan Ali after five years will be the biggest gap that Zalmi have to somehow fill this time around. Peshawar’s spin attack will be helmed by Afghanistan’s magical spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman, who has earned the reputation in various leagues around the world. Young mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed will also be hungry to take wickets after featuring briefly for Karachi Kings in an earlier HBL PSL season. Squad: Wahab Riaz (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Amad Butt, David Miller, Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Mohammad Irfan Senior, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bopara, Saqib Mahmood, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, Tom-Kohler Cadmore and Umaid Asif