Player Draft Of PSL 4: Possible Challenges Of Each Franchise

With player draft of PSL 4 (Pakistan Super League 4) completed, here is a look at possible challenges that each franchise might have to deal when the season begins next year.

Read: PSL 4: A Look At The Major Developments Following The Player Draft

Islamabad United

With no Misbah-ul-Haq Islamabad United will have to cover up for the leadership vacuum that if not dealt with wisely can result in negative results. Media reports suggest that Luke Ronchi is likely to skipper the side but the wicket-keeper batsman lacks experience and exposure that is critical at the T20 level because it allows little time while making key decisions. The biggest challenge for the United then is to groom a leader who is able to deliver efficiently during crunch moments of the tournament.

Peshawar Zalmi

Zalmis possess a very strong bowling line-up but their batting lacks depth for sure. Keeping aside Kamran Akmal and Dawid Malan there is no one who can be relied upon. Not even Misbah who is clearly is going through a break-up cycle of sorts following his retirement and who doesn’t seem fit for competitive cricket anymore.

Read: PSL 2019 Player Draft: 5 Big Names of Pakistan Cricket Who Were Released or Traded By Franchises

Quetta Gladiators

Quetta Gladiators have made it to the finals of PSL twice and have ended up losing on both occasions. Their squad is well balanced however, they have the same think-tank which will need to somehow do away with excess baggage that they carry from previous tournaments.

Karachi Kings

Kings too look well balanced. Their concern, however, has to do with their support staff. They have got people like Mickey Arthur, Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif; all in the same dressing room.

Therefore, there is this good probability of a “too many cooks for the same soup” scenario and dealing with this then should be Kings’ biggest challenge.

Lahore Qalandars

The worst performing team in the history of PSL, Lahore Qalandars should have a million things to worry about. To name a few, other than Shaheen Afridi there seems no other fast bowling option that can be termed as reliable. Moreover, owing to their extremely poor performance during the previous seasons; they have more baggage to deal with than anyone else.

Nevertheless, with a new captain and AB de Villiers pat of the squad this time around; let’s just hope that they somehow manage to break the jinx and at least get into the top four during the next edition of the tournament.

Read: Why Azhar Ali Deserves Blame And Why He Doesn’t In Pakistan’s Loss!

The Sixth Team (Previously Known As Multan Sultans)

“The Sixth Team” (previously known as Multan Sultans) has got big hitters like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Steven Smith and Joe Denly to do the job for them. Moreover, they also have a decent bowling line-up that perhaps would have been even stronger if there were a couple of more spinners particularly, those who had already made a name for themselves at the T20 level.

Nevertheless, the biggest challenge for the Sixth team has to be the uncertainty that lies because Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to name a franchise owner and it is something that can go onto to hurt the team’s cause during the upcoming season.