PSL 2019: Battle of skippers Darren Sammy and Sarfraz Ahmed in Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators

Waseem Ahmed 18:51 14/02/2019
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  • Darren Sammy (l) and Sarfraz Ahmed (r) go head-to-head.

    A perfect start to the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be on the minds of Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators as the two teams get ready to clash in Dubai on Friday.

    The 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi will once again be led by their talismanic skipper Darren Sammy as the West Indies all-rounder gets ready to pit his wits against Quetta skipper Sarfraz Ahmed.

    The one-time champions have in their ranks PSL’s all-time leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in the form of Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz respectively and that should hold them in good stead ahead of a tricky campaign.

    The Peshawar franchise has further strengthened their squad by capturing West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard in the player draft along with experienced former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

    Having retained the core of the squad from last season, Sammy’s men will fancy themselves to get off to a winning start against the Gladiators.

    Quetta, on the other hand, are eyeing their maiden PSL title after falling at the final hurdle on two previous occasions. In Sarfraz, they have a captain who has led Pakistan impressively in the T20 format and the wicketkeeper’s expertise in commanding his men will be crucial for their chances in the fourth edition.

    The Gladiators have been bolstered this season by the capture of Windies T20 stalwart Dwayne Bravo whose all-round capabilities should provide excellent balance to the side. Another player who could prove to be an astute purchase by the franchise is Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed who comes into the tournament after a decent showing in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Thunder.

    TEAM NEWS

    Quetta Gladiators had made a major coup when they got their hands on West Indies spinning all-rounder Sunil Narine in the PSL player draft. However, a finger injury sustained by Narine in the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has ruled him out of the early stages of the PSL. The Gladiators have roped in Somerset’s Max Waller on a short-term deal as cover for the injured Narine.

    Peshawar will have to do without Bravo’s services for the early part of the tournament as well but they have a like-for-like cover available in Dwayne Smith.

    LIKELY LINE-UPS

    Peshawar Zalmi: Kamran Akmal (wk), Misbah-ul-Haq, Imam-ul-Haq, Nabi Gul, Kieron Pollard, Dawid Malan, Darren Sammy (capt), Liam Dawson, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Khalid Usman.

    Quetta Gladiators: Shane Watson, Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Rilee Roussouw, Dwayne Smith, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt and wk), Mohammad Hasnain, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Nawaz, Fawad Ahmed, Anwar Ali.

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