Pakistan Super League 2018: 5 players to watch out for

The third edition of the Pakistan Super League is just around the corner and some of the world’s best T20 players will be seen in action. The PSL has brought to the limelight some world-class talents like Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Fakhar Zaman and the now-banned Sharjeel Khan.

While there will be many well-known Pakistani stars like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, and Hassan Ali who will be the main attractions, we look at some of the talented uncapped Pakistani players who have been making waves in the domestic circuit and will be looking to become household names with some quality performances in the PSL.

#5 Hussain Talat

The 22-year-old all-rounder's name has been floating about in the domestic circuit for the last couple of years. Talat is a middle-order batsman capable of rotating the strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking, and can also hit the big shots when required. The Punjab born left-handed batsman didn’t get many opportunities in PSL 2 but proved his class with a fine half-century against Quetta Gladiators.

He has an impressive average of 36.66 in T20 matches. The youngster is also a handy bowler. He has been knocking on the doors of the selectors and a good PSL will surely enhance his prospects of donning the national colours.

#4 Saud Shakeel

The southpaw is not a traditional T20 batsman but Shakeel has the potential to earn a permanent spot in the Pakistan team for the next decade due to his graceful style and elegant stroke play.

The 22-year-old relies more on timing and placement rather than brute force for his runs. His biggest quality is his ability to play pace and spin equally well and his average of more than 40 in both Pakistan’s first class and List A competitions are a testament to his ability.

The Karachi-born youngster is also a handy left-arm spin bowler and will be useful on the slow surfaces of the U.A E.

#3 Salman Irshad

Pakistan is known to be a land of pacers but for some reason Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir has failed to produce a national player till now; whether it is due to the authority’s negligence or simply a lack of talent, it is a debate for some other occasion, but in the form of speedster Salman Irshad, the people of Kashmir have one of their own to look forward to in PSL 3.

The 22-year-old was spotted by Aqib Javed who was impressed with the moustached prospect’s ability to bowl up to 150 kmph. Even Shoaib Akhtar once claimed in a show that if Irshad works hard on his action and strength he has the potential to break Shoaib’s record, proving that the youngster does have some serious pace.

He still has a lot to learn but Salman proved he has the ability to take wickets by winning 4 Man of the Match awards in 5 matches in his stint with Australian 2nd division club, Hawkesbury Cricket Club.

#2 Shaheen Afridi

The youngster was discovered by legendary leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed at an under 16 talent hunt programme. He impressed Mushtaq so much that he immediately arranged a Bangladesh Premier League contract with Dhaka Dynamites for the teenager.

Shaheen became the first Pakistani player to earn a foreign T20 league contract without playing a domestic match. The 17-year-old also impressed in the U-19 World Cup, taking 14 wickets and ending up as the joint 3rd highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

Apart from being able to swing the ball both ways at around 140 kph, Shaheen is 6’6" and capable of extracting extra bounce to trouble the batsmen. Shaheen is definitely one of the most exciting players not only in Pakistan but the whole world.

#1 Sahibzada Farhan

The hard-hitting opener came into prominence during last year’s Pakistan Cup, smashing a century and 4 half-centuries. His subsequent domestic performances were impressive as well, proving that his exploits in the Pakistan Cup were not a flash in the pan and persuading Islamabad United to draft him as their emerging player.

The 21-year-old has a superb average of 45.66 in T20s further highlighting his class. With Sharjeel Khan missing due to an alleged corruption ban Islamabad United will hope that Sahibzada Farhan replicates the impact made by Sharjeel who helped Islamabad to the title in the inaugural PSL.