PSL 2021: Can Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Quetta Gladiators lift the trophy again?
Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed receiving the PSL 2019 trophy from President Arif Alvi.
Can Sarfaraz Ahmed do that again for his purple force?
Being the sole franchise that has not made any change in its team management, Quetta Gladiators is that the most consistent franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Known as one among the prolific franchises, Gladiators won three finals in five previous editions, winning the title in 2019.
Gladiators' performance last year was marred by back-to-back travel but that won’t be the case for them this point as matches are being held only at two venues – Karachi and Lahore.
King of T20 Chris Gayle
This year, Gladiators will have the services of the “Universal Boss” Chris Gayle who is undisputed King of T20 Cricket.
Gale has several T20 records to his credit which incorporates most runs (13,584), most centuries (22), most half-centuries (85). highest individual T20 score (175*) most sixes (1001) and most sixes during a match (18).
Although, he didn’t had best in PSL during his two previous outings – averaging just 18.78 from his 14 matches but the 41-year-old showed his class in scoring 238 runs at 41.14 for King’s XI Punjab giving Gladiators a hope that Gayle can produce some match-winning knocks for them and feeling the void created after retirement of Shane Watson.
However, he won’t be available for a full season. He will return to West Indies to hitch his national team for the series against Sri Lanka and can get replaced by another T20 stalwart Faf du Plessis.
The batting line-up
The Sarfaraz-led side also has the services of Azam Khan, son of Moin Khan, Cameron Delport, Tom Banton, and Ben Cutting to strengthen their batting lineup.
Delport, who has previously played for Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, and Lahore qalandars within the Pakistan Super League, also can be handy as a part-time seamer. He has, so far, taken 68 wickets at a mean of 28.45 along side Delport, local boys Mohammad Nawaz and Anwar Ali provides Quetta enough firepower.
The bowling side
Quetta has electrical converter bowlers including Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, and Usman Shinwari.
They are regular features of Pakistan’s pace attack in international cricket. They’ll have the guidance of Dale Steyn who is additionally picked by Gladiators as a supplementary player. The South African will join the purple force on 22nd February.
All-rounder Nawaz, along side Afghanistan’s Qais Ahmad and Dadu-based Zahid Mahmood gives Sarfaraz Ahmed some good options during a spin also .
It looks just like the Gladiators are all ready for the PSL action, all they have to try to to is play like true Gladiators if they need to win the second PSL trophy.
Quetta Gladiators' squad:
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Qais Ahmad, Anwar Ali, Saim Ayub, Tom Banton, Ben Cutting, Cameron Delport, Chris Gayle, Mohammad Hasnain, Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Hassan Khan, Usman Khan, Zahid Mahmood, Abdul Nasir, Mohammad Nawaz, Faf du Plessis, Naseem Shah, Usman Khan Shinwari, Dale Steyn.
Fixtures for Quetta Gladiators:
February 20- Karachi Kings, Washington's Birthday - Lahore Qalandars, February 26 - Peshawar Zalmi, March 1- Islamabad United, March 3 - Multan Sultans, March 6 - Islamabad United, March 7 - Multan Sultans, March 11 - Lahore Qalandars, March 13 - Karachi Kings, March 14 - Peshawar Zalmi
0 Comments