Babar Azam named captain as Sports Link unveils official ‘team of the PSL’
By Nawaz Gohar : Following Peshawar Zalmi’s historic title victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the official ‘Team of the Season’ has been announced by Sports Link.
Reflecting his stellar leadership and dominant form, Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam has been named the skipper of this honorary XI. Babar Azam led by example throughout the tournament, finishing as the league’s top scorer with an impressive total of 588 runs.
Joining him at the top of the order is Kusal Mendis, who assumes wicketkeeping duties. Mendis delivered a historic performance, setting a new record for the most runs scored by a foreign player in a single PSL season, amassing 550 runs.
The batting lineup further features the aggressive Fakhar Zaman of the Lahore Qalandars, who scored 401 runs at a formidable strike rate of 152. They are joined by the versatile Steve Smith, who contributed 380 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 161.
While historically renowned for his prowess in the longer format, Smith displayed remarkable adaptability, seamlessly adjusting his game to excel in white-ball cricket.
Shan Masood also earns a spot in the side, having successfully transitioned his patient red-ball technique into a high-impact white-ball approach, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 158. Completing the top-order lineup is Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Usman Khan, who amassed 389 runs at a clinical strike rate of 163.
In the all-rounder category, Shadab Khan stands out as the premier choice. Shadab provided a dual-threat performance, contributing crucial runs with the bat while securing 17 wickets.
The bowling attack is spearheaded by the tournament’s standout spinner, Sufiyan Muqeem. Emerging as a hero of the campaign, Muqeem took a tournament-high 22 wickets with a stellar economy rate of 7.2 runs per over, maintaining an average of one wicket every 12 balls.
The pace attack features Hunain Shah, who claimed 17 wickets, alongside Mohammad Ali, who impressed with 20 wickets. Despite a slightly higher economy rate, Mohammad Ali proved to be a vital strike bowler, successfully claiming a wicket every 14 balls. Completing this elite XI is the formidable Shaheen Afridi, who rounded off a successful season with 16 wickets.
