PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE PREVIEW – ISLAMABAD UNITED: Shadab Khan steps up to the captaincy as Dean Jones is ousted in favour of Pakistani cricket's most powerful man at its most successful franchise
Coach: Misbah-ul-Haq
Captain: Shadab Khan
Last time: Third – lost second eliminator
Previous best: Champions in 2016 and 2018
Faheem Ashraf: The seamer's tally of 21 wickets was good enough for second place among all bowlers during the 2019 PSL, and a devastating haul of 6-19 against Lahore Qalandars in the final group game not only sealed Islamabad's playoff place but also became the best T20 figures by a Pakistani bowler since Sohail Tanvir's 6-14 in the inaugural IPL 11 years prior.
Four victims in this year's tournament would see Ashraf overtake former captain Mohammad Sami as the franchise's leading wicket-taker, despite 2020 marking only his third PSL campaign.
Yet, his importance to the side lies not just in strike bowling, as a team-best economy rate of 7.29 in 2019 underlines.
Phil Salt: Eight months out from the T20 World Cup, the uncapped Sussex opener seems very much on the periphery of England's tournament plans. The 23-year-old joined county teammates Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan as a last-minute addition to the squad to play Pakistan in May, though did not play, and his eight half-centuries in the format since – a figure bettered by only Alex Hales among Englishmen – has yet to earn him international honours.
Salt returns to Islamabad after an underwhelming PSL debut in 2019 saw his strike rate from six outings only reach 128.76 – a substantial dip from his career marker of 156.53 – but he will be eager to plead his case for England duty alongside fellow fringe batsman Dawid Malan as part of a hard-hitting United top order, which will this year be without the Karachi Kings-bound Hales and Cameron Delport.
Faheem Ashraf and Phil Salt return from the franchise's third-place finish in 2019
Shadab Khan: Already a fixture of the global circuit at the tender age of 21, the leg-spinner took two wins from three in his first foray into captaincy for Islamabad United during the 2019 PSL campaign. However, with last year's leader Mohammad Sami first released from the franchise and then going unpicked by all six teams in December's draft, the side's new leader will face a stiff challenge.
However, the PSL's first edition held entirely on home soil will surely provide Shadab a fine opportunity to display his talents for the local fans.
Having already found success this season by leading the bowling averages in the Caribbean Premier League and helping Northern Areas to national T20 glory with 11 wickets in seven games to finish second only to teammate Sohail Tanvir across the league, there may be no better time to shine.
After choosing to retain only former New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi from their 2019 crop of overseas signings, the two-time champion franchise picked intelligently at December's draft to fill out a fearsome import lineup, particularly up the batting order.
In-demand T20 mercenaries Colin Munro and Colin Ingram will be joined by England hopefuls Phil Salt and Dawid Malan in a fight for top-order spots, while none other than South Africa quick Dale Steyn will also be on hand to round out the league's most formidable overseas contingent.
After four seasons at the helm, coach Dean Jones has defected to Karachi Kings after the Islamabad side instead opted to appoint Misbah-ul-Haq for this year's edition.
It will be Misbah's first tournament at the helm of a T20 side, as the 45-year-old's playing career continued with Peshawar Zalmi right through to the end of last year's tournament, and accusations of conflicts of interest have been bandied about due to his other roles as head coach and chair of selectors for the Pakistan men's side.
His bowling stocks also look somewhat light beneath the big-name trio up front, with one-cap white-ball internationals Zafar Gohar and 19-year-old Musa Khan joined by Rumman Raees, who has been out of favour for more than two years.
Pakistan national coach and selector Misbah-ul-Haq joins the franchise as head coach
Shadab Khan (c), Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Saif Badar, Amad Butt, Zafar Gohar, Rizwan Hussain, Colin Ingram (SA), Akif Javed, Musa Khan, Dawid Malan (ENG), Colin Munro (NZ), Rumman Raees, Luke Ronchi (wk, NZ), Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Phil Salt (ENG), Dale Steyn (SA), Hussain Talat
February 20: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United (Karachi)
February 22: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans (Lahore)
February 23: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United (Lahore)
February 27: Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators (Rawalpindi)
February 29: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (Rawalpindi)
March 1: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings (Rawalpindi)
March 4: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars (Lahore)
March 7: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United (Rawalpindi)
March 8: Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United (Rawalpindi)
March 14: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United (Karachi)
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