Many thanks to [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION] for this write up.
Two times PSL champions and table toppers of the 2021 season, Islamabad United will definitely be a team to watch out for this season as well. With a traditionally long batting line-up, aggressive approach at the top and a variety of all-rounders they are once again looking very strong on paper.
After the departure of Mohammad Sami, Islamabad had lacked an experienced pacer to lead their attack and they tried few things to fill in the gap left by Sami and injury of Rumman Raees but the results were not up to their expectations. Last season saw United picking Hassan Ali in the platinum category which covered the missing aspect for them, and fans could see the difference he made straight away with the new ball as well as crucial overs in the match.
With the top order of Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, Collin Munro and having a finisher like Asif Ali in the lower middle order makes Islamabad a formidable batting unit while players like Shadab Khan, Danish Aziz, Azam Khan can provide some solid middle order options as well giving a lot of depth to their batting order. The only blemish one can think of is lack of a consolidator in the potential lineup but then the long batting order covers for it more often than not.
Johan Botha who was the Head Coach of Islamabad United in 2021 was not able to join the team in 2022 and the experienced Azhar Mahmood who has been the bowling coach for Pakistan, Multan Sultans, bowling consultant for England and also had a stint with the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred will be replacing him. A Shadab-Azhar partnership could well be the winning formula Islamabad need to pick-up their 3rd title.
Key players: Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Alex Hales, Asif Ali, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Mohammad Wasim Jr
Strengths: Dynamic top order and long batting depth
Weakness: Not many around to anchor the innings if required
Full Squad:
Asif Ali, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Azam Khan, Paul Stirling, Colin Munro, Marchant de Lange, Muhammad Akhlaq, Reece Topley, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Mubasir Khan, M. Zeeshan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ather Mehmood
Supplementary draft: Musa Khan, Zahir Khan
Partial replacement: Mohammad Huraira