The 2024 Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL 9) thrilled cricket fans worldwide from February 17 to March 18 with electrifying matches and remarkable performances. Let’s delve into the event and revisit the teams that participated in this exciting tournament.
PSL 2024 Season Overview
The ninth season of the Pakistan Super League featured six teams competing in a double round-robin and page playoff system. Matches were held across four cities in Pakistan, showcasing the nation’s passion for cricket. Lahore Qalandars, the two-time defending champions, faced an unexpected early exit, finishing last in the group stage. In the final showdown, Islamabad United emerged victorious, defeating Multan Sultans by two wickets and claiming their third title.
PSL 2024 Squads and Draft
The squads for the 2024 season were finalized through a draft held in Lahore on December 13, 2023, following franchise announcements of retained players. A supplementary and replacement draft took place on January 29, 2024, adding depth and versatility to the teams. Let’s take a closer look at the lineups of each franchise:
Islamabad United: Led by captain Shadab Khan, Islamabad United boasted a formidable roster including international stars like Alex Hales, Tom Curran, and Faheem Ashraf. Their squad also featured promising talents like Hunain Shah and Salman Ali Agha.
Karachi Kings: Under the leadership of captain Rilee Rossouw, Karachi Kings fielded a balanced team with seasoned players like Mohammad Amir, Jason Roy, and Sherfane Rutherford. They also had promising youngsters in Aimal Khan and Paul Walter.
Lahore Qalandars: Despite their early exit, Lahore Qalandars showcased talent with the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Rashid Khan, and David Wiese. Their squad also included emerging players such as Mehran Mumtaz and Luke Wood.
Multan Sultans: Led by captain Shan Masood, Multan Sultans put up a strong fight with contributions from James Vince, Mohammad Nawaz, and Mohammad Amir. They also relied on the skills of youngsters like Arshad Iqbal and Shamar Joseph.
Peshawar Zalmi: With Shaheen Afridi at the helm, Peshawar Zalmi boasted a squad comprising Shahnawaz Dahani, Kamran Ghulam, and Usama Mir. They also had promising talents in Tayyab Tahir and Abbas Afridi.
Quetta Gladiators: Babar Azam captained Quetta Gladiators, aiming for success with a mix of experienced players like Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, and Chris Jordan. Their squad also included promising youngsters like Ahsan Hafeez and Ali Majid.
PSL 2024 Player Highlights
Babar Azam led the batting charts with outstanding performances, securing the award for the most runs. Usama Mir showcased his bowling prowess, clinching the title for the most wickets. Shadab Khan’s all-round brilliance earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award, reflecting his impactful contributions to Islamabad United’s triumph.
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The left-handed batter was accompanied by fellow Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan in Victorians’ squad. Rizwan joined the team today after participating in three-match ODI series against New Zealand in Pakistan.
Today, Rizwan arrived in Dhaka at 10:20am, local time, and then boarded a helicopter, which landed at the Women’s Sports Complex ground beside the Zahur Ahmed Chowhdury Stadium in Chattogram at 12:45pm.
The Pakistan star landed around an hour before the match and was named in the playing XI.
After deciding to field first, the Victorians were set a target of 178 runs after Barishal’s skipper Shakib Al Hasan scored an unbeaten 45-ball 81.
While chasing the target, Rizwan was dismissed after scoring 18 runs in 11 balls with the help of two sixes.
The wicket-keeper batter remained top-scorer in the ODI series against New Zealand. He scored 182 runs in three matches at an average of 91. The right-handed batsman also scored two fifties in the series.
On the other hand, Shaheen Shah Afridi was also supposed to join Victorians but he withdrew from the event. He will continue his rehabilitation in the country ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8. Shaheen will lead defending champions Lahore Qalandars in this year’s PSL.
The 22-year-old cricketer got injured in the final of T20 World Cup 2022. He was taken off the field after sustaining a knee injury while taking a catch off Shadab Khan.
Since then, Shaheen has not taken part in competitive cricket and has remained under strict observation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s medical team.
Shaheen Shah Afridi reportedly withdrew himself from Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after the conclusion of the home ODI series against New Zealand on Friday.
The left-arm pacer, who was continuing his knee rehabilitation process with the national team during the series, will return to Lahore this week. Shaheen was allowed to remain with the team after the mutual decision taken by the interim selection committee led by Shahid Afridi and management.
According to the sources, Shaheen was looking forward to taking part in two-three BPL matches as part of his recovery process. But now, he will continue his rehabilitation at National High-Performance Center in Lahore to get ready for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8. Shaheen will lead defending champions Lahore Qalandars.
The 22-year-old cricketer got injured in the final of T20 World Cup 2022. He was taken off the field after sustaining a knee injury while taking a catch off Shadab Khan.
Since then, Shaheen has not taken part in competitive cricket and has remained under strict observation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s medical team.
It must be noted here that Shaheen is set to tie the knot with Shahid’s daughter Ansha on February 3. After Haris Rauf, who tied the knot last December with his class fellow Muzna Masood Malik, Shaheen’s wedding is going to be another star-studded one within two months’ time.
Both the cricketers, who are also good friends off the field, will represent Qalandars in PSL 8.
The much-anticipated eighth edition of PSL will take place from February 13 to March 19 in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan. The final schedule of PSL 8 will be announced in coming days.
