PSL 2020: Top 5 players from Season 5

After some thrilling ties and superb performances by various players, PSL 2020 has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The news came after the conclusion of the group stage and before the start of the semifinals, which means we won't know the champions of the league until later in the year.

On that note, here's a look at the five standout players from the group stage this year:

5. Sohail Tanvir

Veterans Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir have been crucial for the Sultans

A resurgent Sohail Tanvir is the first player on this list. The unorthodox and wily Multan Sultans all-rounder provided 10 big wickets for his team, without costing them too many runs.

With a best of 4/13 against the dangerous batting of Peshawar Zalmi, a bowling average of just 15.30, an economy rate of under seven and a strike rate of just 13.5, it seems that Quetta made a big mistake by not retaining Tanvir this season.

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While he has claimed less wickets than the likes of Mohammad Hasnain and Wahab Riaz, he has the best average of anyone who has bowled more than three times. He also has the best economy rate of all pacers who have bowled a significant number of overs.

Tanvir could yet prove a good pick for Pakistan going into the T20 World Cup, as only three fast-bowling spots have been realistically taken - Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi.

4. Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi has been brilliant for Lahore this season

Shaheen Afridi has been the glue of the Qalandars bowling unit this year, and his constant breakthroughs have made him the most impressive bowler in the PSL. Afridi has picked up a total of 13 wickets in his nine matches at an impressive average of 18.92 and an economy of seven.

With the next best Lahore Qalandars pacer down at seven wickets, Afridi has led the fast bowling attack for the men in green. If he hadn't put in such a monumental performance, Lahore would have likely missed out on the playoffs once again.

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3. Ben Dunk

Ben Dunk has become a cult hero for the Lahore Qalandars

Another Lahore player occupies a spot in our list. Ben Dunk has been an excellent pick for the Qalandars.

Despite finishing with fewer runs than team-mate Chris Lynn, Dunk has no doubt had a much larger impact. He has produced two colossal innings to assist his team compared to Lynn's one, while batting further down the order (and mostly outside the powerplay).

Dunk's 93 not out from 43 balls against Quetta included 10 sixes, while his 99 not out from 40 balls against Karachi (with 12 sixes) was as spectacular a performance as any.

Dunk finished with 266 runs at an average of 53.20 and a strike rate of 186, while he also topped the six hitting chart by a mile.

2. Babar Azam

Babar Azam

While Ben Dunk or Sharjeel Khan might blast the opposition bowlers away with their power, Karachi Kings batsman Babar Azam defeats them through consistency. He is the top scorer of the competition by quite a distance at 345 runs, which is 61 runs ahead of second placed Chris Lynn.

Azam averages 49.28 while striking at 124, which goes very well in tandem with Sharjeel's performances. He has scored three fifties this edition: 78 from 56 against Peshawar Zalmi, a calm 69 not out from 46 in a 10-wicket win against Lahore Qalandars, and a cool 70 not out from 59 against Peshawar again.

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1. Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan has been phenomenal this PSL

Despite his team finishing at the bottom of the table, the most valuable player of this year's PSL is undoubtedly Shadab Khan.

It was very surprising to see the Islamabad United skipper promote himself up the order for the vast majority of the tournament. Even though he has previously played odd matches batting at various positions in the top six, this season it was a regular occurrence.

Shadab's bowling has been typically stable, with eight wickets at an average of 29.37. He played a holding role as a sole spinner at times, while having a good enough economy rate of 8.24. That is a respectable effort with the ball on flat pitches, and overall Shadab was the second best leg-spinner in the tournament behind Imran Tahir.

But it was his batting that attracted the most attention, as he racked up a stunning 263 runs at an average of 37.57. His strike rate is all the way up at 159.39 with 16 fours and 15 sixes.

Shadab recorded three fifties, the best of them coming against Peshawar Zalmi where he struck 77 from just 42.