Former Windies cricketer was impressed with the talent on show during PSL 9.
Ian Bishop, the former West Indies cricketer and esteemed commentator, expressed admiration for the abundance of talent showcased throughout the recently concluded ninth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Sharing his thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bishop remarked that the recently concluded PSL 9 demonstrated Pakistan’s potential to emerge as a strong contender in this year’s T20 World Cup.
Bishop also congratulated Islamabad United for winning the title for the third time in their history.
Bishop remarked, “Judging by the talent displayed, Pakistan appears poised to be a formidable force at the ICC T20 CWC 2024. With a plethora of excellent bowling choices and influential players who have previously participated in the CPL in the Caribbean, they possess a strong lineup.”
Last night, Islamabad clinched their third PSL title by defeating Multan Sultans in the final match, adding to their previous triumphs in 2016 and 2018. With this win, they have secured the title of the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
In the gripping finale, the outcome hung in the balance until the very last ball when Hunain Shah stepped up to the crease with just one run needed for victory. Displaying remarkable composure, the young player astutely pinpointed the gap at point and skillfully struck the ball, sending it racing to the boundary for a crucial four.
Earlier, Sultans posted 159-9 in their 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat.
A 40-ball 57 by Usman Khan and 26 by captain Mohammad Rizwan led the way for Sultans.
However, Sultans lost five wickets for just 13 runs and slipped to 127-9.
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim starred with figures of 5-23 while Naseem grabbed 3-32.
Iftikhar Ahmed’s rapid-fire innings of 32 not out from just 20 balls, featuring three sixes and three fours, swung the momentum back in Multan’s favor. He scored 31 runs in the last two overs, significantly boosting their total.
United encountered a stumble, tumbling from 121-4 to 129-7. However, Wasim remained composed, guiding the tailenders with assurance. His 17-ball innings of 19 runs proved crucial in steering them to victory.
Leading the charge for the champions, Martin Guptill notched up the highest score with a brisk 50 off 32 deliveries, which included three sixes and four boundaries. Meanwhile, Azam Khan contributed with a quickfire 30 runs off 22 balls, featuring a six and four boundaries.
