5 Pakistan batters from PSL 2022 who could’ve fetched the big bucks in IPL 2022 auction
Back in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) edition in 2008, quite a few Pakistan cricketers in PSL, including Salman Butt, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Mohammad Hafeez took part. But since 2009, they haven’t taken part in the IPL due to political tensions between the two nations.
Pakistan cricket launched their own league in 2016 – Pakistan Super League (PSL) – where their players show their class. In the meantime, the IPL 2022 mega auction is set to take place on February 12 and 13 and a number of Pakistan players could have earned big had they been allowed to take part.
Here’s the list of the 5 Pakistan batters from PSL 2022
1. Mohammad Rizwan- Multan Sultans
Mohammad Rizwan has simply been exceptional in the T20 format, both for Pakistan and the Multan Sultans. The 29-year-old batter was the leading run-scorer in the format in 2021 and showed his utility at the top of the order. In fact, he breached the 2000,-run mark last year in the shorter format.
In the last PSL season, the Sultans made him the skipper by replacing Shan Masood and he didn’t let his team down. Rizwan guided his team to its maiden PSL title. Not to forget that the right-hander has been more than efficient with keeping gloves.
2. Babar Azam- Karachi Kings
Babar Azam has been stupendous for Pakistan and is one of their leading batters across formats since 2015. After racking up runs at will, the Lahore-born batter was also made the captain in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Under him Pakistan won five games in a row in the T20 World Cup 2021.
Azam has also been a prolific run-scorer in the PSL. Currently, a part of the Karachi Kings, he is the all-time leading run-scorer in the history of the T20 championship. Ahead of the 2022 PSL edition, he also replaced Imad Wasim as their skipper.
2. Sohaib Maqsood – Multan Sultans
Sohaib Maqsood has been a genuine power-hitter, although he hasn’t quite been able to make a mark at the highest level. But he has played crucial knocks for the Multan Sultans in the PSL and was one of the key architects behind their title glory in 2021.
In 12 matches, Maqsood notched 428 runs with five half-centuries to show for his efforts. The fact that he played at a strike rate of 156.77 showed the damage he can do with the bat in hand. Recently, Maqsood also made his comeback in the Pakistan national team.
3. Shoaib Malik- Peshawar Zalmi
It’s been 22 years since Shoaib Malik made his debut for Pakistan, but his hunger to taste success hasn’t died down by any means. Even at the age of 40, the Sialkot-born Malik remains one of the fittest cricketers in the Pakistan cricket fraternity.
Having played for three franchises, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi, Malik is the third-highest run-scorer in PSL history. In 63 matches, the veteran has scored 1554 runs with nine half-centuries. He has also led the Zalmi in PSL 2022 in Wahab Riaz’s absence.
4. Sharjeel Khan- Karachi Kings
Sharjeel Khan has been a brute force in the top order of whichever team he has represented in top-level cricket over the last few years. The left-hander has had his fair share of controversies throughout his career, but he hasn’t let them affect his cricket by any means.
Khan is currently honing his skills with the Karachi Kings where he opens the batting alongside skipper Babar Azam. In PSL 2021, he was the fifth-highest run-getter after he amassed 338 runs with one ton and a fifty. He also had an incredible strike rate of 148.24.
