We’re halfway through PSL 9 and moving towards the crucial stages of the tournament. At this point, every player from all the franchises is aiming for a spot in the national team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. So, let’s introduce you to 5 rising stars from PSL 9 who might just secure their places in Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
Number 5: Agha Salman: Salman Ali Agha from Islamabad United is in great form these days. His performance has been promising, especially noticeable from the very first match of the tournament where he left a strong impression by finishing the game alongside captain Shadab Khan. Up until now, Salman has racked up 188 runs in 5 innings, boasting an impressive strike rate of 154, including two fifties.
Islamabad United’s management is showing a lot of faith in Salman Ali Agha, giving him ample chances to prove himself in both the top and middle order. And Salman is indeed living up to the expectations. Besides his batting, Salman is also making a significant contribution with the ball for United. Though he has claimed only 2 wickets so far, he has maintained an economical bowling rate of just 7.
Number 4: Khawaja Nafay: Which PSL fan isn’t familiar with the name Khawaja Nafay? Gaining fame through social media, this young star has been providing plenty of highlights in PSL 9. Everyone, from his teammates to cricket legends, has been singing praises for this youngster.
Khawaja Nafay has impressed everyone with his hard-hitting and smart batting. Watching him bat, it’s clear he uses his mind correctly during his innings. It’s been observed that he always looks to rotate the strike after hitting a boundary, which is quite a remarkable and smart ability. This talent makes him an ideal candidate for any format especially for the T20 format. In PSL 9, he’s been batting at a strike rate of 141.
Number 3: Abrar Ahmad: Abrar is one of the most improved player in PSL 9. So far, for Quetta Gladiators, he has taken 10 wickets in 5 innings at an economy rate of 7.65. His mystery spin could prove to be a game-changer for Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He was also selected for the recently concluded Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 series but couldn’t play any match due to an injury. If he continues his good performance in the PSL, he could also secure a spot in the national team’s spin bowling department.
Number 2: Arif Yaqoob: Representing Peshawar Zalmi, leg spinner Arif Yaqoob is really making waves at PSL 9. He played a key role in securing a crucial win for Peshawar Zalmi against Islamabad United. In a tense moment of the game, with United needing just 21 runs from 12 balls and Colin Munro well-set at 71 runs from 53 balls, Arif was given the ball in the 19th over.
Remarkably, Arif didn’t just take Munro’s wicket with the first ball of that over, he also snagged 3 more wickets, conceding only 2 runs, and dramatically shifted the win from Islamabad United to Peshawar Zalmi. With this, Arif became the first bowler in PSL history to take 4 wickets in a single over. His precision and ability to perform under pressure make him stand out from other spinners. Up to now, he has claimed 8 wickets in 3 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 8.27.
Number 1: Muhammad Ali: Last but definitely not least, Multan Sultans’ leading bowler, Muhammad Ali. As the season’s top wicket-taker, Muhammad Ali has been dominant in every part of the game. Whether it’s the powerplay, middle overs, or the death overs, whenever the Multan Sultans’ captain Muhammad Rizwan, has handed him the ball, Muhammad Ali has proven his worth. He has impressively taken 13 wickets in 6 innings, boasting an excellent economy rate of 6.26. Teaming up with Shaheen and Naseem, Muhammad Ali could form the perfect fast-bowling trio for Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
It’s certainly too early to make any definite predictions about these players’ prospects for ICC T20 World Cup 2024 selection. However, right now, they are showing great potential, particularly in areas where the Pakistan Cricket Team has faced challenges in the last year. For instance, issues with spin bowling and middle-order batting have been ongoing concerns for the Pakistan Cricket Team in recent years. Therefore, the players we’ve talked about earlier could play crucial roles, making them significantly important for consideration in the World Cup squad. For all PSL teams analysis, PSL 2024 schedule of all teams and updates for ICC T20 World Cup 2024, visit here.
