CPL guide

The fifth season of the Caribbean Premier League is underway and at the time of writing (Tuesday) six matches have been played out.

For the Pakistani contingent it is the first time out since their Champions Trophy win, and many of them are already leaving their mark in the league, which will be played till September 9.

Shadab Khan – Trinbago Knight Riders

Shadab Khan has continued from where he left off in the second season of the Pakistan Super League, and is the reason why the Knight Riders have won both of their games so far.

With 2 for 15 in his four overs, which included the scalps of the dangerous Andre Fletcher and Jesse Ryder, Shadab helped restrict the Zouks to 132 in the opening match of the tournament. The chase was easily mopped up by Brendon McCullum and his compatriot Colin Munro in little over 10 overs.

However, it was in the reverse leg against the Zouks that Shadab showcased what we’d like him to do more often for Pakistan as well. After bowling another economical 1/16 in his allotted four overs, Shadab top-scored with a match-winning 30* to see his side over the line in a low-scoring encounter.

For the Pakistani contingent it is the first time out since their Champions Trophy win, and many of them are already leaving their mark

Kamran Akmal – St Lucia Zouks

Akmal’s Zouks have lost both their matches against the Knight Riders with the Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman scoring 5 and 17 in the two innings. While he was run-out in the first match, it was his failure to capitalise on the start in the second that might see him overlooked in the future matches.

After a productive PSL, Akmal couldn’t cash in on the opportunity in the national side’s tour to the West Indies earlier this year. Failing to score runs in the CPL, would further jolt his profile as a valuable wicket-keeper batsman for any T20 franchise.

Hasan Ali and Mohammed Hafeez – St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Like Akmal, Mohammed Hafeez has failed to capitalise on his 19 and 11 in the two innings. Always prone to run outs, Hafeez also had one to his name. He also managed to drop two sitters in two overs in the reverse leg against the Warriors.

But none of this has stopped the Patriots from posting two wins out of two, with Hasan Ali bowling two impressive spells of 2/19 and 1/19 in the two matches, the former earning him the Player of the Match award.

However, barring Chris Gayle’s 66*– which itself was an atypical innings – the Patriots batting hasn’t really fired. Hafeez and co would need to work on that as the look to build on the winning start.

Babar Azam and SohailTanvir – Guyana Amazon Warriors

Babar Azam has scored two consecutive 21s in losing causes for the Warriors. The first 21 came off 30 balls and completely halted the momentum that Chadwick Walton and skipper Martin Guptill had created for the Warriors. This is a continuation of the problem that Babar has exhibited, despite his impressive start of the career with Pakistan. He cannot afford to consume too many deliveries, for his personal run tallies.

Long designated as an all-rounder, Sohail Tanvir has scored 1 run and taken 1 wicket in the first two matches. He needs to come good especially with the ball, as Warrior’s strike bowler.

Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz – Barbados Tridents

Wahab Riaz’s three wicket maiden over couldn’t help Tridents beat the Tallawahs in the fifth game of the tournament, as both sides shared a game each in the two legs. Earlier Wahab had bowled a decent 1/20 spell to help restrict the Tallawahs in the first leg.

Shoaib Malik looked good in Tridents’ win with 33. But he too fell to a run out like many of his compatriots for 8 in the second leg.

Tridents and Tallawahs have all to play for with one win each.

Imad Wasim and Mohammed Sami – Jamaica Tallawahs

Sami has bowled two spells that are contenders for the best and worst bowling performances of the 6-match-old tournament. And that in a nutshell is Mohammed Sami’s career.

Having conceded 0/48 in the first-leg defeat against Tridents, Sami then took 4/12 to bring his side back in the tournament.

Imad Wasim has been among the wickets and has been economical as well (2/16 and 1/20). However, his late 16 off 12 balls wasn’t enough to take his side home in the first leg against the Tridents.