Pakistan Super League 2021 (PSL 6): Everything You Need To Know Quickly—Teams, Fixtures, & Predictions

by Nitesh Mathur | Feb 20, 2021 | Previews and Reviews

Pakistan Super League 2021 is back once again!

Yes everybody, just 4 months after Karachi Kings lifted the PSL trophy (due to COVID interruption), we are back at it. Pakistan Super League 2021 is already making some noise—with “Groove Mera” anthem, entire tournament held in Pakistan, and the allowance of 20% crowd capacity.

With a Pakistan limited overs side on the rise and the upcoming T20I World Cup later this year, PSL 6 has additional context, both for Pakistani players and international recruits wanting to prove a point.

Babar Azam Vs Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan Vs Faheem Ashram, Hasan Ali Vs Haider Ali

These are just some of the in-form star players that will be on show. Talent galore and good cricketing all around.

Here is a quick summary of everything you need to know about the PSL 6: Teams, Dates, Fixtures, Coaching Staff, Commentators, predictions, and more!

Quick Summary

• Matches: 34 (6 teams, 10 matches each, double round robin, top 4 qualify for playoffs)
• Teams: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators
• Dates: February 20th- March 22nd
• Venues: Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore), National Stadium (Karachi)
• Commentators/Presenters: Pommie Mbangwa (Zimbabwe), Alan Wilkins (Wales), Simon Doull, Danny Morrison (New Zealand), David Gower, Dominic Cork (England), Rameez Raza, Zainab Abbas, Urooz Mumtaz, Sana Mir, Bazid Khan, Sikander Bakht, Tariq Saqeed (Pakistan)

History

1. Islamabad United: 2016, 2018 (Won), 2019 (3rd), 2017 (4th), 2020 (6th)
2. Peshawar Zalmi: 2017 (Won), 2018, 2019 (Runners Up), 2016 (3rd), 2020 (4th)
3. Quetta Gladiators: 2019 (Won), 2016, 2017 (Runners Up), 2018 (4th), 2019 (5th)
4. Karachi Kings: 2020 (Won), 2017, 2018 (3rd), 2016, 2019 (4th)
5. Lahore Qalandars: 2020 (Runners Up), 2016, 2017 (5th), 2018, 2019 (6th)
6. Multan Sultans: 2020 (3rd), 2018, 2019 (5th) (*Franchise did not exist before 2018 season).

PSL 6: Teams & Expected Playing XI

With Australia’s T20I tour of New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies, Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand, and the limited overs leg of India vs England, there are several players who withdrew or will be only staying for a short time.

*Teams highlighted in their respective jersey colors

Islamabad United

• Pakistan Internationals: Shadab Khan (C), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Ifthikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Musa, Zafar Gohar
• Pakistan Domestic: Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Mohammad Wasim, Rohail Nazir, Zeeshan Zameer
• Foreign Recruits: Ali Khan (USA), Fawad Ahmed (Australia), Alex Hales, Lewis Gregory, Phil Salt (England), Paul Stirling (Ireland)

*Withdrawn: Reece Topley (England), Chris Jordan (England), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Akif Javed

Coaching Staff: Johan Botha (Head Coach), Saeed Ajmal (Assistant coach), Rumman Raees (Bowling Coach), Corey Rutgers (Fielding Coach)

I am looking forward to the impact of the openers, in-form Faheem Ashraf, and the Alis. Hasan Ali + Ali Khan = ENERGY & wickets (Asif Ali, the hitter as well).

Islamabad United Expected XI:

1. Alex Hales, 2. Paul Stirling, 3. Rohail Nazir (WK), 4. Asif Ali, 5. Hussain Talat, 6. Ifthikhar Ahmed, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Ali Khan, 11. Fawad Ahmed

Karachi Kings

• Pakistan Internationals: Imad Wasim (C), Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Aamer Yamin, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood (1 T20I)
• Pakistan Domestic: Abbas Afridi, Arshad Iqbal, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Ilyas, Qasim Akram, Zeeshan Malik
• Foreign Recruits: Daniel Christian (Australia), Joe Clarke (England), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan), Chadwick Walton – WK (West Indies)

Coaching Staff: Wasim Akram (Bowling Mentor), Herschelle Gibbs (Head Coach), Dougie Brown (Assistant Coach), Faisal Iqbal (Batting Coach)

I am looking forward to the middle order of Nabi-Christian-Wasim. Babar Azam and Colin Ingram are pretty strong, but if they fail for once, it will all depend on the senior middle order.

Karachi Kings Expected XI:

1. Babar Azam, 2. Colin Ingram, 3. Sharjeel Khan, 4. Chadwick Walton (WK), 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Daniel Christian, 7. Imad Wasim (C), 8. Aamer Yamin, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Waqas Maqsood, 11. Arshad Iqbal

Lahore Qalandars

• Pakistan Internationals: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf
• Pakistan Domestic: Sohail Akhtar (C), Agha Salman, Ahmed Danyal, Dilbar Hussain, Maaz Khan, Muhammad Faizan, Muhammad Zaid, Zeeshan Ashraf
• Foreign Recruits: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), David Wiese (South Africa), Joe Denly, Samit Patel, Tom Abell (England), Ben Dunk -WK (Australia)

Coaching Staff: Aaqib Javed (Head Coach), Mansoor Rana (Batting Coach), Shahzad Butt (Fielding Coach)

I am looking forward to the international contingent—Ben Dunk, Samit Patel, David Wiese, and Rashid Khan. David Wiese was instrumental to Qalandars’ runners up campaign last time around, and the same is expected this season.

Lahore Qalandars Expected XI:

1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Sohail Akhtar (C), 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Ben Dunk, 5. Samit Patel, 6. David Wiese, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Haris Rauf, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Dilbar Hussain, 11. Muhammad Faizan

Multan Sultans

• Pakistan Internationals: Mohammad Rizwan (C), Shahid Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir, Khusdil Shah, Sohail Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Imran Khan
• Pakistan Domestic: Mohammad Umar, Shahnawaz Dhani, Sohaibullah
• Foreign Recruits: Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), Chris Lynn (Australia), Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies), Adam Lyth, James Vince (England)

Coaching Staff: Andy Flower (Head Coach), Azhar Mahmood (Fast Bowling Coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (Spin Bowling Coach), Richard Halsall (Fielding Coach), Nathan Leamon (Director of Strategy)

I am looking forward to the top order of Lynn-Rizwan-Vince and the leg spinners. With Usman Qadir, Shahid Afridi, and Imran Tahir, anything is possible.

Multan Sultans Expected XI:

1. Chris Lynn, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), 3. James Vince, 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Sohaib Maqsood, 6. Shahid Afridi, 7. Carlos Brathwaite, 8. Sohail Tanvir, 9. Sohail Khan, 10. Usman Qadir, 11. Imran Khan

Peshawar Zalmi

• Pakistan Internationals: Wahab Riaz (C), Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (WK), Mohammad Irfan
• Pakistan Domestic: Abrar Ahmed, Amad Butt, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Imran (right arm all rounder), Mohammad Imran (left arm medium-fast), Umaid Asif
• Foreign Recruits: David Miller (South Africa), Ravi Bopara, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (England), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies)

*Withdrawn: Liam Livingstone (Withdrawn)

Coaching Staff: Darren Sammy (Head Coach), Hashim Amla (Batting Coach), Arshad Khan (Team Manager)

I am looking forward to the finishing power. If the top order can set the platform, Shoaib Malik, David Miller, and Ravi Bopara can be a handful.

Peshawar Zalmi Expected XI:

1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Haider Ali, 3. Kamran Akmal (WK), 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. David Miller, 6. Ravi Bopara, 7. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 8. Saqib Mahmood, 9. Wahab Riaz, 20. Mohammad Irfan, 11. Umaid Asif

Quetta Gladiators

• Pakistan Internationals: Sarfaraz Ahmed (C/WK), Anwar Ali, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Shinwari, Zahid Mahmood (1 T20I)
• Pakistan Domestic: Azam Khan, Arish Ali Khan, Abdul Nasir, Hassan Khan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan
• Foreign Recruits: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn, Cameron Delport (South Africa), Tom Banton (WK) (England), Ben Cutting (Australia), Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan)

Coaching Staff: Moin Khan (Head Coach), Viv Richards (Batting Coach), Umar Gul (Bowling Coach), Julian Fountain (Fielding Coach)

I am looking forward to see how the Umar Gul mentored team with international stars like Dale Steyn and Ben Cutting is going to impact the likes of Naseem Shah & Mohammad Hasnain.

Quetta Gladiators Expected XI:

1. Chris Gayle, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Tom Banton/Cameron Delport, 4. Azam Khan, 5. Sarfaraz Ahmed (C/WK), 6. Ben Cutting/Dale Steyn, 7. Anwar Ali, 8. Naseem Shah, 9. Mohammad Hasnain, 10. Mohammad Nawaz, 11. Usman Shinwari

Key Match Ups To Watch Out For

1. 40 is the new 30 feat Shahid Afridi & Chris Gayle: These two have been playing cricket for over two decades. Whenever you think they are done, they will come back with a man-of-the-match performance. Also add the newly retired from Test cricket, Faf du Plessis to the list of prominent veterans.
2. Prove a point with a bang feat Alex Hales & Paul Stirling: Alex Hales, once again ignored from the England national set up (despite most runs in the Big Bash) and Paul Stirling, ignored from the IPL auctions (despite being the best ODI batsman over the last year), find themselves together as opening pair for the Islamabad United. No better time to prove your critics wrong.
3. Mohammad Amir Vs The Rest of The World: Amir controversially announced in a statement that he is still available to play for Pakistan, although it is unlikely to happen under the current management. Will he walk the talk?

Pakistan Super League 2021 Predictions

Finally here are my predictions.

My prediction for the team to lift the PSL 6 trophy is….Islamabad United with the Top 4 of Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi.

• Green Cap (Most Runs): Mohammad Rizwan
• Maroon Cap (Most Wickets): Hasan Ali
• Emerging Player: Rohail Nazir
• Surprise Package: Paul Stirling
• Broken Cricket Dream: Shahid Afridi finally retires? Like really.

Here were my Pakistan Super League 2021 Predictions. What did you think? What are YOUR predictions? Comment Below!

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Fixtures

The league stage begins on 20th February and ends on the 16th of March. The Playoffs schedule is:

• Qualifier (Lahore) – 18 March (1 vs 2)
• Eliminator 1 (Lahore) – 19 March (3 vs 4)
• Eliminator 2 (Lahore) – 20 March (Eliminator 1 winner Vs Qualifier loser)
• Final (Lahore) – 22 March (Eliminator 2 winner Vs Qualifier winner)

Here is the rest of the schedule:

Image Courtesy:

Image Courtesy: Sarfaraz Ahmed – License, as on date of upload: ‘Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)’ , CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons