The Cricketer picks out the standout performers from the opening week of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans)
There is little surprise that the Multan Sultans skipper makes the cut. Rizwan is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 219. With three half-centuries so far and also claiming six catches behind the stumps, the Pakistan opener has picked up from where he left off in the BPL.
Martin Guptill (Quetta Gladiators)
Despite a cheap dismissal in Quetta Gladiators' opening game defeat to Multan Sultans, the New Zealander reminded everyone of his quality with the first and only century of the PSL thus far. His 117 runs off 67 deliveries helped his team beat Karachi Kings by six runs, an innings that include a dozen fours and five sixes.
Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans)
A constant amid Sultans' impressive start to the season, Rossouw has already made some serious contributions at No.3. He has two scores over 70 both of which helped the Sultans to victory. The South African would be the highest run-scorer in the tournament if not for his skipper, but they give the Sultans' top-order a formidable look.
Kiwi batter Martin Guptill (ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)
David Miller (Multan Sultans)
With 100 runs at a strike rate of 169 so far in the tournament, Miller has been vital to the Sultans' three victories in their four games. His highest score of 52 off 25 balls came in a victory over Islamabad United - another example of his expertise at the death.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Peshawar Zalmi)
The 28-year-old English middle-order batter may have been dismissed cheaply in Peshawar Zalmi's defeat to Sultans, but his performance against Karachi Kings helped seal a win by two runs. Kohler-Cadmore scored an absurd 92 from 50, hitting seven fours and six sixes - a crucial innings in a high-scoring and tight game.
Colin Munro (Islamabad United)
With 89 runs in this first week of the tournament, the Kiwi is in the top 10 run-scorers, a position you can expect him to maintain for the duration. His most impressive knock came in Islamabad United's win over Karachi Kings where he hit 58 from 28 deliveries at a strike rate of 207.14.
Shoaib Malik goes big for Karachi Kings (ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Shoaib Malik (Karachi Kings)
As the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, Shoaib has been one of the few shining lights for the struggling Kings. Malik has 151 runs in total with a high score of 71 off 49, but it wasn't enough to beat Gladiators.
Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings)
As captain of Kings, Imad will be disappointed with his team's lacklustre start. However, the skipper has put in some notable showings both with bat and ball. His highest score of 80 came in a loss to Zalmi, prior to taking 3 for 16 against Gladiators.
Usama Mir (Multan Sultans)
The first of three Sultans bowlers in this XI. The Pakistan legspinner has been one of the outstanding performers of the tournament, taking eight wickets in the first week of the tournament. Usama has taken at least two wickets in three of his four outings, and can already count Fakhar Zaman and Munro among his victims.
Abbas Afridi celebrating has been a regular feature of the first week (ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)
Abbas Afridi (Multan Sultans)
The 21-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler has claimed eight wickets in 9.5 expensive overs for Sultans, delivering a strike rate of 7.2. There can be no doubt about his stand-out display - a return of 4 for 22 against Islamabad United as a combination of short and slower balls did for the middle-order.
Ihsanullah (Multan Sultans)
The 20-year-old right-arm pacer has taken the most wickets of the tournament so far, with 12 wickets at an average of 7.66, and has the tournament's only five-wicket haul. Shahnawaz Dahani's injury absence could have been blow to the Sultans' title hopes, but Ihsanullah has responded to the call.
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