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Islamabad United PSL 9 | Squad and Discussion Thread

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Firebat

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The full squad:

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Islamabad United – Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox (Wildcard) (England) (all Platinum), Imad Wasim (Mentor), Azam Khan, Tymal Mills (England) (all Diamond), Faheem Ashraf (Brand Ambassador), Alex Hales (England), Colin Munro (New Zealand) (all Gold), Rumman Raees (Successful relegation request), Matthew Forde (West Indies), Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan (Silver), Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah (both Emerging), Shamyl Hussain and Tom Curran (England) (both Supplementary)
 
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Shadab's selfishness has ruined the team. He'll probably bat at 4 with no protection and is the only leggy.

If he flops, the team will flop.
 
Hales and Munro have a serious job on their hands this time.
 
PakEngFan said:
I am hoping they give Shamyl Hussain a go at the top with one of these guys batting at 3.
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Yeah Munro can bat at 3 as well.

The big deal Shamyl is the best option for the emerging slot!
 
Rana said:
Yeah Munro can bat at 3 as well.

The big deal Shamyl is the best option for the emerging slot!
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But Naseem has picked both of his brothers in emerging and I bet one of them will play even though Shamyl is the best option. They can always play 2 emerging players but I doubt shadab will do that, he comes across very insecure and with his friendship with Naseem I highly doubt it.
 
PakEngFan said:
But Naseem has picked both of his brothers in emerging and I bet one of them will play even though Shamyl is the best option. They can always play 2 emerging players but I doubt shadab will do that, he comes across very insecure and with his friendship with Naseem I highly doubt it.
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Well they have a good coach in Hesson. They will probably have some intervention from the coaching staff
 
Easily the strongest squad

Hales
Munro
Cox
Shadab
Azam
Qasim
Imad
Faheem
Naseem
Mills / Forde
Hunain

There are 4 options for pace and 3 options for a spin, including a leg spinner, a left-arm off-spin, and an off-spinner. The batting order is flexible so that it can be adjusted based on the match situation.
 
ChAslam said:
Easily the strongest squad

Hales
Munro
Cox
Shadab
Azam
Qasim
Imad
Faheem
Naseem
Mills / Forde
Hunain

There are 4 options for pace and 3 options for a spin, including a leg spinner, a left-arm off-spin, and an off-spinner. The batting order is flexible so that it can be adjusted based on the match situation.
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Doesn't the batting look light? Shadab is batting at 4 and their finisher is coming in at 5. I can easily see teams taking out IU with early wickets.
 
Not really sure what people are talking about in this thread but to me, Islamabad looks like a great squad. Hales/Munro/Azam are great T20 batters, Shadab is solid as a batter too and if he regains his bowling form, he'll be a huge threat. Imad is a strong batter too and I think there is breakout potential with Qasim who hasn't fully hit his stride in PSL.

Should be a much better bowling attack too with Naseem & Imad in the mix.
 
Hextro said:
Doesn't the batting look light? Shadab is batting at 4 and their finisher is coming in at 5. I can easily see teams taking out IU with early wickets.
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No, the batting order of IU changes according to the situation. For instance, if two quick wickets fall, Qasim Akram or Imad Wasim will be sent to stabilize the innings for 4 to 5 overs. I did some stats digging on selected IU players.


Colin Munro in PSL:
  • Munro's best performance was in the Powerplay (Over 1 to 6), where he scored 507 runs in 316 balls at an average of 42.20 and a strike rate of 160.40. He hit 50 boundaries and 29 sixes, with a dot percentage of 40.50. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.000.
  • From Over 7 to 11, Munro scored 311 runs in 195 balls at an average of 34.60 and a strike rate of 159.50. He hit 20 boundaries and 20 sixes, with a dot percentage of 29.70. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.875. In the third period (Over 12 to 16), Munro scored 120 runs in 73 balls at an average of 120.00 and a strike rate of 164.40. He hit 10 boundaries and 5 sixes, with a dot percentage of 15.10. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.867. Which shows he is capable of holding one end till over 14.


Alex Hales in PSL:
  • Hales performed well in the Powerplay, scoring 432 runs in 282 balls at an average of 39.30 and a strike rate of 153.20. He hit 64 boundaries and 13 sixes, with a dot percentage of 40.80. His balls per boundary ratio is 3.662.
  • From Over 7 to 11, he scored 191 runs in 149 balls at an average of 27.30 and a strike rate of 128.20. He hit 18 boundaries and 5 sixes, with a dot percentage of 30.20. His balls per boundary ratio is 6.478.
  • From Over 12 to 16, he scored 108 runs in 83 balls at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 130.10. He hit 10 boundaries and 4 sixes, with a dot percentage of 34.90. His balls per boundary ratio is 5.929. Same as Munro, he can hold one end till the end of 14 overs.


Jordan Cox since 2023:
A lot of people are raising eyebrows on his selection but I think this is the best pick by Islamabad United. They needed Backup WK (in case Azam gets injured) and also someone who can bat at any position. His record in the last 1 year is more than decent.

  • In Powerplay, Cox scored 116 runs in 89 balls at an average of 23.20 and a strike rate of 130.30. He hit 16 boundaries and 3 sixes, with a dot percentage of 49.40. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.684. Shows he can bat as an opener as well in case Hales and Munro are unavailable for some matches.
  • Cox's best performance was from Over 7 to 11, where he scored 136 runs in 104 balls at an average of 68.00 and a strike rate of 130.80. He hit 13 boundaries and 3 sixes, with a dot percentage of 29.80. His balls per boundary ratio is 6.500. That's why I would place him at number 3. Once he gets settled he can accelerate from Over 12 - 16 as shown in his 2023 record in which he scored 197 runs in 121 balls at an average of 28.10 and a strike rate of 162.80. He hit 15 boundaries and 10 sixes, with a dot percentage of 31.40. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.840.
  • From Over 17 to 20, Cox scored 78 runs in 40 balls at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 195.00. He hit 2 boundaries and 8 sixes, with a dot percentage of 27.50. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.000.


Shadab Khan for Islamabad United:
IMO he can bat at number 4 to hold on to one end and give chances to batter at the other end to play aggressively.
  • Shadab's performance in the Powerplay, where he scored 162 runs in 132 balls at an average of 32.40 and a strike rate of 122.70. He hit 17 boundaries and 6 sixes, with a dot percentage of 43.90. His balls per boundary ratio is 5.739.
  • From Over 7 to 11, he scored 337 runs in 249 balls at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 135.30. He hit 18 boundaries and 21 sixes, with a dot percentage of 33.70. His balls per boundary ratio is 6.385.
  • From Over 12 to 16, he scored 263 runs in 183 balls at an average of 15.50 and a strike rate of 143.70. He hit 14 boundaries and 14 sixes, with a dot percentage of 28.40. His balls per boundary ratio is 6.536.
  • At death overs, he scored 168 runs in 106 balls at an average of 12.90 and a strike rate of 158.50. He hit 11 boundaries and 10 sixes, with a dot percentage of 35.80. His balls per boundary ratio is 5.048.

The four batsmen mentioned can play till the end of Over 12 - 14. Even if they get out early, IU can send Imad Wasim early to stabilize the innings and hold Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf for the last stages of the innings where both are brutal forces. I picked Qasim Akram as this will give IU another bowling option (Off Spinner). They can use him as well for the anchoring role.


Imad Wasim in PSL:
  • From Over 7 to 11, Imad scored 162 runs in 135 balls at an average of 54.00 and a strike rate of 120.00. He hit 17 boundaries and 1 six, with a dot percentage of 29.60. His balls per boundary ratio is 7.500. Keep in mind he played these innings in the last PSL where KK's batting was struggling and he had to come and play the majority of the overs. Same from Over 12 to 16 he scored 391 runs in 305 balls at an average of 78.20 and a strike rate of 128.20. He hit 27 boundaries and 17 sixes, with a dot percentage of 32.80. His balls per boundary ratio is 6.932.
  • His best performance was in the third period (Over 17 to 20), where he scored 495 runs in 303 balls at an average of 16.50 and a strike rate of 163.40. He hit 44 boundaries and 24 sixes, with a dot percentage of 28.40. His balls per boundary ratio is 4.456.


Azam Khan for Islamabad United:
He may be overweight, but he's a formidable late-innings hitter.
  • From Over 12 to 16, Azam Khan scored 273 runs in 158 balls at an average of 34.10 and a strike rate of 172.80. He hit 22 boundaries and 19 sixes, with a dot percentage of 31.60. His balls per boundary ratio is 3.854.
  • Over 17 to 20, he scored 162 runs in 79 balls at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 205.10. He hit 12 boundaries and 14 sixes, with a dot percentage of 32.90. His balls per boundary ratio is 3.038.


Faheem Ashraf for Islamabad United:
  • Faheem's best performance is from Over 17 to 20, where he scored 425 runs in 237 balls at an average of 21.20 and a strike rate of 179.30. He hit 38 boundaries and 25 sixes, with a dot percentage of 30.00. His balls per boundary ratio is 3.762.
  • From Over 12 to 16, he scored 212 runs in 178 balls at an average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 119.10. He hit 18 boundaries and 7 sixes, with a dot percentage of 36.50. His balls per boundary ratio is 7.120.
 
I don't know why Islamad has selected both Hunain and Ubaid in the emerging categories. They could have gone for Shamyl Hussain as well as the 2nd emerging guy. He was brilliant.
 
BouncerGuy said:
I don't know why Islamad has selected both Hunain and Ubaid in the emerging categories. They could have gone for Shamyl Hussain as well as the 2nd emerging guy. He was brilliant.
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They are gonna play all 3 brothers in one game
 
BouncerGuy said:
I don't know why Islamad has selected both Hunain and Ubaid in the emerging categories. They could have gone for Shamyl Hussain as well as the 2nd emerging guy. He was brilliant.
Click to expand...
They got shamyl.

It doesnt matter if he was picked in supplementary he will still count as emerging
 
In a recent press conference for Islamabad United with local media, Naseem Shah said:

"Right now, my focus is on playing in the PSL, finding my rhythm, and delivering good performances. InshaAllah, I'll think about the World Cup later."

"I've played quite a bit of cricket with Shadab, and I hope for a good season where we can play good cricket and enjoy ourselves."

"Let me tell you first and foremost, I'm a player myself. I haven't played enough to be considered a legend, selector, coach, or selector of an international team. I am just a player, and during the draft, when they were selected, it's because they worked hard. When I talk to them, it's not about cricket much because they earned their place through hard work. When I was outside the draft, they got selected. They've worked hard, and I'm just requesting that they get the credit they deserve. They are my brothers, and it's a good thing, but they've earned their spot through hard work. If Hunain Shah takes 4 wickets or Ubaid takes 5, instead of saying 'Naseem Shah's brother took 5 wickets,' it's better to mention their individual names. They should get credit for their performances where they've worked hard."
 
Here he is right. Let's give credit to his brothers where it is due.But let's see how the Shah Brothers perform.
 
Islamabad United starts their PSL campaign against the defending champions Lahore Qalandars. Would they be able to win their third title or would they slump again? Follow the fixtures below to know.
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PSL Nine Supplementary and Replacement Players announced

Islamabad United, too, reserved their pick for Tom Curran, who will not be part of the side for this HBL PSL edition. Karachi Kings have called in Zahid Mehmood as a partial replacement of Kieron Pollard while they have reserved their pick for Tim Seifert, who will be available after the conclusion of the New Zealand T20Is.

Haider Ali was drafted into the Islamabad United squad, with the batter all set to feature in his fifth HBL PSL season with Islamabad being his third franchise.
 
Islu look decent hopefully Shamyl opens with hales and munro at 3.

The Shah brothers will bring the energy and excitement to the squad.
 
United come across very superficial with great PR, it seems like a fun team to be part of, but they won’t be winning anything…

I know it’s a united thread, but Zalmi are shaping up to be a gun team…

Saim, Baber, Asif Ali, Harris, haseebullah, Gus Atkinson, Shamar Joseph, Jamaal and the list goes on….

Possible winners….
 
Fanti78 said:
United come across very superficial with great PR, it seems like a fun team to be part of, but they won’t be winning anything…

I know it’s a united thread, but Zalmi are shaping up to be a gun team…

Saim, Baber, Asif Ali, Harris, haseebullah, Gus Atkinson, Shamar Joseph, Jamaal and the list goes on….

Possible winners….
Click to expand...
Weak leadership on the field. Otherwise the team is good enough to win. Hopefully Hesson will bring in some much needed tactical nous. Shadab is a hopeless case though.
 
Today's practice session: Focus, determination, and the United spirit shining bright as we gear up for PSL9.

Mike Hesson can be seen and has started working with the boys.

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Islamabad United’s journey in HBL PSL marked by a thrilling brand of cricket

Islamabad United, renowned for its distinctive style in the HBL PSL, boast an unparalleled blend of strategies and data-driven methods while showcasing a thrilling brand of cricket. Owned by Ali Naqvi and Amna Naqvi, the team consistently selects some of the most skilled players in the T20 cricketing arena.

“HBL PSL has been an amazing journey. When it started, we knew it would be big but didn’t know it would have such a huge impact. We were playing our first season in the UAE when we won and it was when we landed in Pakistan that we truly realised how big the league had become and how great an achievement it was to win the inaugural season,” said Rehan-ul-Haq, Islamabad United’s General Manager.

“When the league came to Pakistan, it was already huge. I remember playing the 2018 final in Karachi. A packed house, an atmosphere to savour. It has only gotten bigger & better. When we played our first home game in Rawalpindi, chants of ‘Ronchi-Ronchi’ were so loud that we felt it in our dugout. Nothing compares to the passion of Pakistan fans in stadiums,” added Rehan.

Islamabad United’s adeptness in identifying young talent and its commitment to player development and attentive support towards player well-being make the franchise stand out.

Islamabad United was the first franchise to appoint former emerging players as captains; namely, Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan. Moreover, the team set a commendable precedent by providing comprehensive care for its players, as evidenced by their support for Rumman during his injury recovery.

Reflecting on this support, Rumman said: “During my injury, Islamabad United appointed me as a bowling consultant and facilitated my rehabilitation with their physiotherapist. I have forged a strong bond with Islamabad United as a result.”

The franchise's keen support for talent has resulted in the rise of players like Shadab, Rumman, Asif Ali, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr, who have not only made their mark in United's lineup but also represented Pakistan.

United has been committed towards grooming local talent since the first edition of the League. Babar Azam was picked up by Islamabad United in 2016 and went on to make his T20I debut for Pakistan later in the same year, achieving great success in his career. In addition, players like Kamran Ghulam – a domestic powerhouse – and Rohail Nazir – a prodigal wicketkeeper batter – were also selected and developed by the franchise. The appointments of Dean Jones as coach and Misbah-ul-Haq as captain proved pivotal towards this player development.

Despite a challenging start in the first edition of HBL PSL – losing four out of six group stage matches –United's management retained faith in their players. Against the odds, they rebounded by winning five consecutive matches and securing the title. Memorable performances from key players like Mohammad Sami, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, Dwayne Smith, and Rumman defined their triumphant journey.

Islamabad United excelled again in HBL PSL 2018 – after losing in the play-offs of the 2017 edition – with Luke Ronchi's impactful batting setting a new standard. Asif’s crucial sixes against Peshawar Zalmi’s Hasan Ali in the final secured Islamabad their second title, making them the first team to achieve this feat. Despite a reputation for restrained celebrations, the city's residents turned out in large numbers to celebrate the IU Victory Parade.

Since 2019, Islamabad United has focused on bolstering their batting line-up, at times at the expense of bowling resources, consequently creating squad imbalance. Learning from their mistakes, the HBL PSL 9 draft marked a shift to a calculated, albeit still aggressive approach.

United’s top-order is loaded with potent batters like Alex Hales, Jordan Cox, and Colin Munro. The middle-order features dynamic hitters like Azam Khan, Shadab, Imad Wasim and Qasim Akram. In the pace bowling department, Naseem Shah – along with his younger brothers Hunain Shah and Ubaid Shah – join seasoned names like Tymal Mills and Rumman, adding a unique dimension to the side. Imad, Shadab, Qasim and Agha Salman provide a diverse spin department. Shamyl Hussain, an aggressive top-order batter from Pakistan U19, and Shahab Khan, the leading wicket-taker in National T20, further enhance the team's strength.

This year, the franchise also introduced a program called “Women Empowerment Champions” and renewed their association with Diana Baig, Aliya Riaz and Bismah Maroof.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bismah Maroof, Aliya Riaz, and Diana Baig to Islamabad United. Their prowess on the cricket field is matched only by their dedication to promoting women’s empowerment. This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where talent knows no gender boundaries,” highlighted Amna.
 
Islamabad will be facing Lahore in the opening match of PSL 9. Can they start their campaign on the winning note? Have a strong squad to topple any team in this PSL. Let's see if all the shah brothers play this game together.
 
Islamabad United will be facing Peshawar Zalmi in the next game and they will not be having the services of Alex Hales for that game.

---------------------

Alex Hales Unavailable for Upcoming Match vs PZ, He will Return in Karachi

The England star had a prior personal commitment, hence he will be unavailable for Islamabad United’s match vs Peshawar scheduled on 26th Feb.

Fans can look forward to Alex Hales' return as he is expected to be back in action for the all remaining matches.
 
Return of the Kiwi legend. Will surely help Islamabad solve their opening problems.
 
Islamabad United squad has landed in Islamabad for the 2nd leg of PSL9.

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In an interview with local Pakistani Media, Jordan Cox, the 23-year-old shared insights into his experience with the franchise, his aspirations, and his views on the league's standard and local talent:

"Islamabad United is a great franchise been here for four games out the five and really enjoyed my time. Hesson is a great head coach really enjoyed playing under him. The boys are slowly playing some good cricket obviously to lose a few games has been quite tough but to get two games four points is positive."

“You know, for where I'm batting at the minute is a finishing roll. So to get the boys over line in a couple of games will be awesome. And at the end of the day, it's not about you know, own successes, it is cool, it's nice to have but I've much taken over wins and my own success for sure."

“No personal goals none at all. To lift the trophy, I lifted the trophy last year with Lahore and hoping to lift it this year as an Islamabad United player, it would be pretty awesome."

“I'm always trying to play for England, that is the goal, being 23 to play for England anytime soon be pretty cool as the World Cup is around the corner, but I don't think I'm in the ballot for that really, I don't think yet."

"I think I need to develop more skills and show that I'm capable of playing for England. So, I'll try my best in this competition to push myself forward. But I'm not putting myself on that list."
 
IU and PSL's top guns and bowlers with best economy will miss the action today.
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Colin Munro, the opening batsman for Islamabad United, might not play in the eliminator match against Quetta Gladiators because of a hamstring injury.

In case he misses the game, Islamabad will be feeling very unlucky. He absolutely smashed Multan and won them a high-scoring game. Let's see if he gets fit in time or not.
 
Did you think IU would get this far?
 
On a TV show Misbah Ul Haq lauds Islamabad United for backing their players. he said:

"This is the difference between Islamabad and other franchises that they even carried those players who were struggling to perform, such as Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Haider Ali, and they also backed backed Imad Wasim and look at crucial stages they proved to be match winners for the team. So, with that sort of treatment with players always gives them belief and confidence which eventually makes them good performers."
 
New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi speaking during an interview:

When asked about his learnings and favorite memory from HBL PSL:

“It’s the cultural thing. I think you get to learn different bits of the world. I really enjoy that part of playing different leagues around the world and the PSL was one of them. And I think I get from that as well. There were some T10s and different competitions. I got to play with a lot of the Pakistani players so that was fantastic. So, like I said earlier, to be involved with them has been a lot of fun. And again, we play Pakistan quite a bit at the moment so it’s quite cool to bump into them and have conversations with them all and see how they’re tracking in their careers as well, it’s quite cool.”

“It’s like winning the PSL when we did in 2018. I think it was my first year in the competition and we had a great team and a great culture going on. We had a lot of fun and I think you saw that again this year with how well they played and they ended up winning the competition again. So the more fun you have when you’re doing those sorts of leagues is how I think you see teams winning. So to see Islamabad doing as well as they have done, it’s fantastic to watch.”

​
 
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