Five young PSL 2021 stars who could make it to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad
Multan Sultans clinched their maiden title on Wednesday (June 24) with a mighty impressive victory over Peshawar Zalmi in Abu Dhabi and brought the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 to a close.
The tournament played partly in Pakistan and partly in the Middle East saw all six PSL franchises battle hard for places, with competition testing their depth and resolve more than ever.
That, Islamabad United, who topped the PSL 2021 points table with more wins than anyone else, lost two consecutive playoff games and couldn’t break it through to the final, reflects how teams could never take the complacency route and had to be at their absolute best to succeed.
In such circumstances, Pakistan’s national selectors and the management had a great opportunity to assess their players’ progress and preparation towards the T20 World Cup. This, including not only those who make the regular T20I playing XI, but also those on its fringes.
The PSL 2021 saw quite a few of the fringe players put in noteworthy performances and stake a claim for higher recognition with the Pakistan team. Here are five such emerging talents that might just find favours from the selectors in Pakistan’s extended T20 World Cup squad later this year.
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PSL 2021: Khushdil Shah impressed playing for Multan Sultans
Five young PSL 2021 stars who could make it to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad
1. Khushdil Shah
Batting in the lower middle order for Multan Sultans, opportunities to play long innings were limited for Khusdil Shah. Yet, the 26-year-old right-hand batsman emerged as one of his team’s bright spots. Khushdil made 165 runs from his nine innings of the competition at an average of 41.25 and strike-rate of 137.50. His tournament tally included as many as 11 sixes to go with seven fours. Khushdil has played nine T20Is for Pakistan with an indifferent record. He will hope his PSL contributions for Sultans can push him higher in the reckoning.
2. Azam Khan
Quetta Gladiators couldn’t eventually make the tournament playoffs, finishing last in the six-team points table. But their wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan, the son of former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan, certainly emerged as one of the raw talents to watch out for. The 22-year-old made quite a few heads turned with the skill level he displayed. On the back of his ability to hit the ball a distance, Azam even made it to Pakistan’s T20I squad for the England and West Indies trips recently. Though he eventually ended the PSL campaign with only 174 runs from his 10 innings, Azam is certainly one of the players that would have the Pakistan selectors interested near the T20 World Cup.
3. Shahnawaz Dahani
A 22-year-old medium fast-bowler from Sindh, Shahnawaz Dahani of Multan Sultans ended the PSL 2021 as the top wicket-taker. Dahani picked up 20 wickets from his 11 innings in the competition at an average of 17.00 and an economy rate of 8.42. His tournament tally included two four-wicket hauls, featuring his best figures of 4/5 versus Lahore Qalandars. Dahani could be one of the names up for consideration when Pakistan selectors look to finalise their T20 World Cup touring party.
4. Mohammad Wasim
Mohammad Wasim, the uncapped 19-year-old right-arm pacer, was another one of the players to end the PSL 2021 with impressive numbers. Playing for Islamabad United, Wasim bagged 12 wickets from 11 innings while going at a respectable 8.40 runs per over with a best of 4/31 taken against eventual champions Multan Sultans. Wasim played a significant role in helping United top the points table with 8 wins from their 10 matches. The paceman proved expensive when United entered the knock-outs, but he could still find a place in Pakistan’s extended T20 World Cup squad.
5. Mohammad Hasnain
21-year-old tall right-arm quick, Mohammad Hasnain, has been part of the Pakistan limited-overs set up for quite some time. Hasnain has played 8 ODIs and 14 T20Is for his country already. In the shortest version, Hasnain boasts of decent numbers in limited opportunities – 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.29 – and took nine wickets from as many games at 8.89 runs per over for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 2021. A bring young prospect, Hasnain could be one of the quicks seen playing for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in September-October.