With the 2017 Pakistan Super League final taking place in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday, March 5, Paul Radley looks back on his best XI for the entire tournament.
1. Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi)
Started the tournament with a blistering 88, finished the UAE matches with the only century of the tournament, and issued a come-and-get-me plea to Pakistan’s selectors. A fine month’s work.
2. Ahmed Shehzad (Quetta Gladiators)
Successive half-centuries as the group reached its business stage – and a heroic fall out with Kevin Pietersen over a near run out when they batted together.
3. Kevin Pietersen (Quetta Gladiators, foreign)
The definition of all or nothing, he made three runs in five deliveries in four innings early in the tournament. The rest of the time he seemed nigh on unstoppable.
4. Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators, foreign)
The South African’s form might have waned just as the stakes were getting towards their height, but his contribution at the start of the competition laid the platform for Quetta.
5. Kieron Pollard (Karachi Kings, foreign)
For his sublime fielding, his massive hitting, his cool finishing, the two sixes to win the seminal match against Lahore Qalandars, and those press ups to celebrate.
6. Shadab Khan (Islamabad United, emerging player)
Might the young leg-spinner be Pakistan’s next big star? Dean Jones, his coach, thinks so. “He is ready to play for Pakistan now,” Jones said of the 18-year-old bowler.
7. Sunil Narine (Lahore Qalandars, foreign)
The Trinidadian spinner’s economy rate of 6.46 was some way short of his career standard, but impressive nonetheless. His batting caught the eye, too, with a strike rate of 181.25.
8. Wahab Riaz (Peshawar Zalmi)
A fair claim to be considered the player of the tournament. Peshawar’s leading wicket-taker noticeably upped the ante the more the pressure rose in the knockout phase.
9. Hasan Ali (Peshawar Zalmi, emerging player)
A class act, and still only 23. Three wickets in the demolition when Lahore Qalandars were all out for 59 was most eye-catching, but 0-21 in the play-off against Karachi was also valuable.
10. Rumman Raees (Islamabad United)
Of the seven matches he played for the outgoing champions, the left-arm pace-bowler went wicketless just once. He did not deserve to be on the losing side in the eliminator against Karachi.
11. Sohail Khan (Karachi Kings)
His haul of 16 wickets in the tournament before the final was three better than the next best, Wahab Riaz. Nine of those wickets came in matches against the eventual finalists, Peshawar and Quetta.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Install an air filter in your home.
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Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
