The second leg of PSL 9 has begun, and now PSL 9 is moving towards its final stages. This PSL has been quite spectacular for some players, especially as many new faces have made their mark. However, among them, there are also names that we see struggling, and this struggle isn’t just in PSL 9 but has been ongoing for a while, leading to significant disappointment among fans. The consequences of this struggle and poor performance could be serious. Let’s take a look at 5 players and their performances for whom this season could prove to be their last.
Number 5: Faheem Ashraf: Once considered Pakistan’s prime all-rounder, Faheem has appeared off-color in both the bowling and batting departments this season. Looking at Faheem Ashraf’s stats for this year, he has been given a chance in 3 matches where he has conceded runs at an economy of 12 and has failed to take any wickets. Similarly, in batting, he hasn’t shown any impressive performances either.
If we look at his PSL career stats, he showcased outstanding performance in his initial 2 seasons, taking 18 and 22 wickets respectively. However, in the last 4 seasons, he hasn’t been able to take wickets in double figures in any season, and his economy has remained on the higher side. Looking at his batting stats, last season, PSL 2023, he managed to perform well with the bat, marking it as his best season from a batting perspective. Perhaps this is why Islamabad United kept their faith in him for PSL 9 and didn’t drop him.
Otherwise, United’s management made quite bold decisions this time, including not retaining big names like Asif Ali and Hasan Ali. If Faheem Ashraf doesn’t improve his performance, he could face difficulties in the future.
Number 4: Sohail Khan: 40 years old, Sohail Khan has played for 5 different PSL teams, and his age along with his bowling economy suggests that PSL 9 might be his last. This year was supposed to be a comeback for Sohail, especially since he wasn’t picked by any team last season. This year, the Quetta Gladiators showed faith in him, but so far, he has only had the chance to play in one inning, where his performance was disappointing. Looking back at his performance in previous seasons, he has failed to deliver any standout performances. His best season was in PSL 2017 playing for Karachi Kings, where he claimed 16 wickets.
Number 3: Mohammad Nawaz: Nawaz, once considered a match-winner and consistently playing for Quetta Gladiators for 8 seasons, was not retained this year by the Gladiators. Instead, Karachi Kings picked him in the Platinum category for the PSL 9 draft. However, this pick has not been beneficial for Karachi Kings, as so far, he has only taken 2 wickets this season, and his batting strike rate is just 112. Mohammad Nawaz has also faced fitness issues due to injuries. Recently, Nawaz has been under scrutiny due to his performance, struggling to justify his selection at the international level despite regular opportunities. If his poor form continues, this could potentially be his last PSL.
Number 2: Sarfaraz Ahmed: The former captain of Quetta Gladiators, Sarfaraz Ahmed, is going through a declining phase in his career. In PSL 9, he has been stripped of his captaincy, and the way he’s been performing, even his place in the team is in jeopardy. So far this season, Sarfaraz has scored only 15 runs in 4 innings, with a strike rate of 71 and an average of 5.
In the last two seasons, PSL 8 and PSL 7, his batting strike rate was respectively 104.5 and 115.2. Additionally, his wicket-keeping performance has not been as impressive as before. It’s clear that Sarfaraz Ahmed lacks the firepower and energy required for the T20 format. This is why, due to failures over the last four seasons, he had to relinquish his captaincy. With such performances, his future participation in PSL in the coming years is also questionable.
Number 1: Shan Masood: The red-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shan Masood, has significantly improved his game after playing county cricket and is also the captain of Yorkshire County Cricket. This experience has positively impacted his international career, not only marking his comeback but also making him the current test captain for Pakistan.
In PSL 9, he was brought in from Multan Sultans and was immediately appointed as the captain of Karachi Kings. However, this decision hasn’t changed Karachi Kings’ fortunes, as the batting stats for captain Shan Masood are in front of you. This season, he has managed to score only 81 runs in 5 innings, with a strike rate of 97.6. Among the openers in PSL 9, his strike rate is the lowest.
Before coming to Karachi Kings, if we look at Shan Masood’s stats, his performance for Multan Sultans was pretty decent. In PSL 2023, he scored 236 runs at a strike rate of 124, and in PSL 2022, he made 469 runs at a strike rate of 137. However, he has been unable to convert this form for Karachi Kings this year.
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