The ninth edition of the PSL saw Islamabad United and Multan Sultans competing for the trophy in the final.
The culmination of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine unfolded as Islamabad United emerged victorious over Multan Sultans in the final showdown held at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday.
Under the leadership of Shadab Khan, Islamabad United secured their third PSL title, adding to their previous triumphs in 2016 and 2018 when Misbah-ul-Haq captained the team to victory.
While fans were treated to exhilarating matches such as Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars, amidst all the excitement, there were certain players who struggled to meet the high expectations placed upon them, enduring a forgettable tournament.
Here is the PSL 9 Flop XI, a list containing players who failed to meet the expectations.
1. Alex Hales
With his association with Islamabad United dating back to 2018, Alex Hales holds a prominent position as one of the senior players in the team, with high expectations riding on his batting prowess. Despite notable performances in the past, Hales had a rather forgettable PSL 9, managing to accumulate just 148 runs at an average of 14.8 and a strike rate of 124.
2. Shan Masood (C)
Leading Karachi Kings, the champions of the 2020 PSL, Shan Masood carried the weight of guiding his team into the playoffs. However, the left-handed batsman faced significant challenges and failed to deliver any standout performances with the bat. Throughout the tournament, the 34-year-old only managed to accumulate 158 runs across 10 innings, maintaining a modest average of 15.8 and a strike rate of 105.
3. Mohammad Haris (wk)
Although he fulfilled his batting responsibilities in the second eliminator against Islamabad United by scoring 40 runs off 25 balls, the 22-year-old had a rather lackluster tournament overall. Despite his notable innings, the wicketkeeper-batsman’s performance remained below par, tallying only 142 runs across 10 innings with an average of 15.7 and a strike rate of 132, falling short of the anticipated standards.
4. Rilee Rossouw
Taking on the leadership role for the first time with Quetta Gladiators, Rilee Rossouw showcased exceptional captaincy skills, steering the team to the playoffs for the first time in four years. However, despite his successful stint as skipper, the South African star struggled significantly with the bat, failing to produce any noteworthy performances throughout the tournament. Across 10 innings, the left-handed batsman only managed to accumulate 148 runs at an average of 16.4 and a strike rate of 107.
5- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
After an impressive showing in PSL 8 with 325 runs, Peshawar Zalmi had lofty expectations from explosive batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore to replicate his performance and guide the team to the playoffs once more. However, the right-handed batter encountered significant difficulties this time around, failing to find his form throughout the tournament. Over the course of eight innings, Kohler-Cadmore could only accumulate 121 runs at an average of 15.12, a stark contrast to his previous season’s success.
6- Sarfaraz Ahmed
Having led the Quetta Gladiators to victory in the 2019 PSL, Sarfaraz Ahmed faced intense scrutiny due to his inconsistent performances, which ultimately led to his removal as captain. Despite the change in leadership, Sarfaraz struggled to find his form, managing just 22 runs across five innings in PSL 9, resulting in a meager average of 5.5 for the tournament.
7- Khushdil Shah
Multan Sultans retained Khushdil Shah for his aggressive style of play and his capability to contribute valuable runs lower down the order. However, he failed to live up to expectations in PSL 9, managing just 68 runs across nine innings. In addition to his batting struggles, the Bannu-born cricketer also faced challenges on the field, attracting attention for several dropped catches, further adding to his disappointing campaign.
8- Mohammad Nawaz
Selected in the platinum category by Karachi Kings, Mohammad Nawaz was expected to be a key player for the 2020 PSL champions. However, the 29-year-old failed to make significant contributions with either the bat or the ball. Despite featuring in eight games and batting in six innings, Nawaz struggled to fulfill his role of finishing matches for the Kings, accumulating a mere 88 runs without reaching triple digits. Similarly, with the ball, he could only manage to claim two wickets throughout the tournament.
9- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Despite Mohammad Wasim Jr’s crucial six that propelled Quetta Gladiators into the PSL 9 playoffs, his overall performance in the tournament left much to be desired. As an all-rounder, there were high expectations for him to make significant contributions with both bat and ball. However, the right-armer fell short in both departments, managing just 30 runs in six innings with the bat, while also picking up a modest tally of nine wickets at an economy rate of 9.90 with the ball.
10- Luke Wood
Although Luke Wood managed to secure 12 wickets in 11 matches for Peshawar Zalmi, he didn’t emerge as their most potent bowling threat. Despite his efforts, the left-armer struggled with an economy rate of 8.24 and failed to deliver crucial breakthroughs for his team during pivotal moments in matches.
11- Salman Irshad
Once again, Peshawar Zalmi faced disappointment as another of their pacers, Salman Irshad, failed to deliver when it mattered most in PSL 9. Despite his efforts, the right-arm pacer struggled to make an impact, managing just nine wickets from eight matches. Additionally, his economy rate of 10.37 was among the highest among the top 23 bowlers in the tournament, further adding to his team’s woes.
