What's new

PSL 2017 Team Preview - Quetta Gladiators: How will they cope with heightened expectations?

Muhammad10

T20I Debutant
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Runs
6,284
In the wake of a robust maiden PSL campaign, the stakes couldn't be higher for the Quetta Gladiators. Will they still be able to find success, now that they are perceived as being among the favourites?


FuTyfgY.jpg


Full Squad: Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mahmudullah (BAN), Luke Wright (ENG), Anwar Ali, Tymal Mills (ENG), Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar, Rilee Rossouw (SA), Mohammad Nawaz, Asad Shafiq, Saad Nasim, Umar Amin, Hasan Khan, Noor Wali

Supplementary: Nathan McCullum (NZ), Thisara Perera (SL), Bismillah Khan, Mir Hamza

Captain: Sarfraz Ahmed

Coaching Staff: Sir Viv Richards (Team Mentor), Moin Khan (Head Coach), Abdul Razzaq (Assistant/Bowling Coach), Julien Fountain (Fielding Coach)

Having exceeded expectations with a runner-up finish in the first edition of the PSL, it’s safe to say Quetta Gladiators are no longer considered the underdogs.

With an enigmatic captain and dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman in Sarfraz Ahmed, a bona fide T20 superstar in the brash Kevin Pietersen and Ahmed Shehzad - (Quetta’s top-scorer in the first edition of the PSL) whose recent performances in domestic Limited-Overs cricket indicate that he is in the form of his life - opening the batting, the team’s batting line-up is blessed with a strong, experienced core.

The reliability of this core group of batsmen is well complemented by the likes of Luke Wright and Rilee Rossouw; aggressive dashers thoroughly capable of upping the ante to great effect. However, accumulators in the mould of Asad Shafiq and Umar Amin are not really suited to the fast-paced modern T20 game and could prove to be liabilities in high-scoring encounters.

Apart from a well-rounded batting line-up, Gladiators also have a versatile bowling attack, particularly when the types of pitches encountered in the UAE are taken into consideration. A rich blend of experienced operators in the vein of death-bowling specialist Umar Gul and Zulfiqar Babar are strongly complemented by tearaway English pacer, Tymal Mills.

All-rounders play a major role in this side. Anwar Ali gives them a canny line and length medium-fast bowler, who can provide impetus with the bat in the latter stages of the innings and is a live wire in the field, but he does struggle to provide regular breakthroughs at times and cannot really be considered a strike bowler. Mohammad Nawaz, who was a revelation in the first edition of the PSL, where he befuddled many batsmen with his turn and guile to become Quetta’s top wicket-taker, is a vital pillar of this bowling attack on the turning UAE pitches. Mahmudullah can be a decent finisher with bat and ball but has been out of form in Bangladesh's recent matches. Saad Nasim is a handy utility cricketer, who brings variety to the spin attack in the form of leg spin and can be relied upon to score some runs.

The team will be managed by head coach Moin Khan, who will look to ensure his team can live up to heightened expectations in the wake of a fruitful maiden PSL campaign, where they finished just a win away from lifting the title. Team mentor Viv Richards is tasked with inspiring his players to play to their full potential, while assistant/bowling coach Abdul Razzaq will hope to guide the bowling attack to success. The competence of the team as a fielding unit will depend upon Julien Fountain, the fielding coach.

Quetta Gladiators have a strong all-round squad, equipped with a wide range of quality players as well as an impressive coaching team, which is bound to present a great challenge to all their opponents and place them firmly among the favourites to go all the way in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League.

Key man: Kevin Pietersen

Players to watch out for: Ahmed Shehzad, Rilee Rossouw, Tymal Mills and Mohammad Nawaz
 
Last edited:
Much expected from Ahmed Shehzad and he will know that for his own personal development, this is as a good a chance to influence selectors as any.
 
Mediocre team -- they got to the finals/semis only because of KP.

If KP isn't captaining in effect, like he was doing the last time, Sarfraz might run them.
 
As Pak IT20 captain, I would think Sarfraz should have no problems captaining them
 
Awful bowling attack. Should finish bottom of the table.

All the local garbage in one team with decent overseas players.

Mediocre team -- they got to the finals/semis only because of KP.

If KP isn't captaining in effect, like he was doing the last time, Sarfraz might run them.

Mediocre team and not even KP and Wright can save them this time.

Same comments were mentioned last time let's see what happens now, this team is more balanced than the last one they had but surely KK and Qalandars have put up a tremendous squad this time, let's see if they'll give the chance to this underdog team or not!! Will be interesting..
 
Much expected from Ahmed Shehzad and he will know that for his own personal development, this is as a good a chance to influence selectors as any.

No Sanga with the Gladiator's this time?
 
Wow all the LQ supporters hating on Gladiators. Can't wait till these arrogant Qalanadars are put in their place like last time.

Gladiators have the best captain in Pakistan leading them so they should be good.
 
Asad Shafiq and Zulfiqar Babar have to be two of the worst picks of this PSL. Rest of the squad is fine compared to the other teams.
 
Weakest squad on paper, but then again, we said this last time as well, where they didn't have many big names, apart from KP. Will have to wait and see how guys like Gul, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Nawaz, Wright and KP perform.
 
1 Ahmad Shehzad.
2 Luke Wright.
3 Kevin Pietersen.
4 Rilee Rossouw.
5 Sarfaraz Ahmad.
6 Hassan Khan.
7 Mohammad Nawaz.
8 Anwar Ali.
9 Tymal Mills.
10 Umar Gul.
11 Zulfiqar Babar.

Can't underestimate this line up. Pretty strong top order. Mills the only good fast bowler. Rest of the fast bowlers going to be carted around. Good spinners too.
 
1 Ahmad Shehzad.
2 Luke Wright.
3 Kevin Pietersen.
4 Rilee Rossouw.
5 Sarfaraz Ahmad.
6 Hassan Khan.
7 Mohammad Nawaz.
8 Anwar Ali.
9 Tymal Mills.
10 Umar Gul.
11 Zulfiqar Babar.

Can't underestimate this line up. Pretty strong top order. Mills the only good fast bowler. Rest of the fast bowlers going to be carted around. Good spinners too.

Wait, I thought Hassan Khan was the fast bowler who clocked 149 kp/h QG found during their Camps.
 
Good squad but needs to perform on the day. Looking forward that how many players can get a call for international matches.
 
I want Hasan Khan to bat above hacks like Anwar Ali. That kid is actually a batsman but is played as a bowler.
 
very boring side apart from KP wright and sarfaraz.

Rossouw is also an aggressive batsman, although I'm not sure how he will fare on the sluggish UAE pitches.

Tymal Mills is an exciting express pacer; hope they play him ahead of the likes of Zulfiqar, who's clearly past his best.
 
Batting looks ok , bowling has weak pace attack. Too much dependence on Umar Gul.
 
1-Ahmed Shehzad,
2-Luke Wright (ENG) can bowl
3-Kevin Pietersen (ENG)
4-Sarfraz Ahmed,
5-Umar Amin, can bowl
6-Rilee Rossouw (SA)
7-Mohammad Nawaz can bowl
8-Anwar Ali, can bowl
9-Saad Nasim can bowl
10-Tymal Mills (ENG), can bowl
11- Umar Gul, can bowl

Zulfiqar Babar, , Mahmudullah (BAN),, Asad Shafiq, , Hasan Khan, Noor Wali -
 
1-Ahmed Shehzad,
2-Luke Wright (ENG) can bowl
3-Kevin Pietersen (ENG)
4-Sarfraz Ahmed,
5-Umar Amin, can bowl
6-Rilee Rossouw (SA)
7-Mohammad Nawaz can bowl
8-Anwar Ali, can bowl
9-Saad Nasim can bowl
10-Tymal Mills (ENG), can bowl
11- Umar Gul, can bowl

Zulfiqar Babar, , Mahmudullah (BAN),, Asad Shafiq, , Hasan Khan, Noor Wali -

1 Emerging player is compulsory ,thus one of Noor Wali or Hassan Khan has to play and probably in place of Umar Amin or Saad Nasim.
 
Back
Top