PSL has been a competitive T20 league. The last eight editions have seen six winners! No team can claim to have dominated this tournament in the past. Picking up a clear winner for the season would be a tough ask, but looking back at the past few seasons can give us a glimpse into the sides' potential.
# Lahore Qalandars
The defending champions, the Qalandars, have won the tournament's last two editions, and the side will look to make a hattrick of titles this year. They have dominated the tournament in the last two seasons, and the side will look to continue with the same momentum. Shaheen Afridi has inspired confidence in his players and led from the front. He will aim to do the same this season and defend the title successfully. They have retained top players from last two seasons, and the players will look to do well. According to cricket betting sites, they will be one of the favourites to win the title.
Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, David Wiese, Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique, Zaman Khan, Mirza Baig, Rashid Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Imran, Ahsan Bhatti, Dan Lawrence, Jahandad Khan, Syed Faridoun, Shai Hope, Kamran Ghulam, Rassie van der Dussen, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Tayyab Abbas
# Multan Sultans
Mohammad Rizwan's side has finished runner-up in the last two seasons. It was heartbreaking for the side as they lost in the final by 1 run. Rizwan would like to put the misses of the last two years behind him and lay his hands on the trophy for the first time since 2021. They are one of the strongest teams in the tournament and shall look to go the distance. They have been the finalists in the last three editions and have the strength to go the distance.
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Faisal Akram, Dawid Malan, Reeze Hendricks, Reece Topley, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Yasir Khan, Chris Jordan, Aftab Ibrahim, David Willey, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Shahzad
# Peshawar Zalmi
Babar Azam's side lost in the 2nd Eliminator game last season. They were inconsistent right throughout the season and moved from wins to losses. The last few seasons haven't been the best for the team, and Azam, who likes leading from the front, would look to make a positive start this year. They have a strong batting lineup, but their bowling attack let them down last year. Azam will look to get the bowling combination right and expect a better show from them this year.
Squad: Babar Azam (c), Rovman Powell, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq, Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Gus Atkinson, Mohammad Zeeshan, Waqar Salamkheil, Mehran Mumtaz, Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Shamar Joseph, Arshad Iqbal, Luke Wood
# Islamabad United
Winners of the title in 2016 and 2018, Shadab Khan's side has never achieved the kind of success it did in the first few seasons. They have made it to the playoffs in the last three editions but have succumbed to pressure. Shadah Khan will look to inspire the side for a better show in this edition. There are good players in the side who come here in good form from other tournaments and shall look to play to their strengths. Shadab Khan would look for a good start to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Tymal Mills, Matthew Forde, Salman Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Tom Curran, Jordan Cox, Haider Ali, Obed McCoy
# Karachi Kings
Shan Masood's side failed to get their acts together last season. They had a poor season, finishing fifth on the points table with just three wins. The former champions have good players on the side and would look to make a positive start this season. They have struggled with their playing combination, and regular changes haven't helped. Masood would want his team to put the upsets behind them and play with a positive mind.
Squad: Shan Masood (c), James Vince, Hassan Ali, Shoaib Malik, Tabraiz Shamsi, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Akhlaq, Irfan Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Tim Seifert, Mohammad Amir Khan, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas, Sirajuddin, Saad Baig, Jamie Overton, Zahid Mehmood, Leus du Plooy, Mohammad Rohid
# Quetta Gladiators
They won the title in 2019, and since then, it has been a downward slide for the team. They finished at the bottom of the points table and haven't made the playoffs since the last four seasons. They must start well and build the momentum. The team isn't short of talent or star power, but they haven’t got it right in the last four years. Sarfaraz Ahmed must lift the spirits in the camp for them to do well.
Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Will Smeed (Silver) Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali, Usman Qadir, Adil Naz, Khawaja Nafay, Akeal Hosein, Sohail Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sherfane Rutherford, Bismillah Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem
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The T20 fervor will be on full steam in April as we have the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League. It is a momentous occasion for the tournament, which has grown in stature and popularity over the last decade. We have started the year with the success of the Big Bash League, SA20, and the International League T20. This year's PSL would coincide with the biggest cricketing extravagance in the tournament, the Indian Premier League, and we may see some players switching between the two leagues. While the PSL may not have the same brand value as the IPL, it matches up well in terms of the level of competition.
