Crap team with decent overseas players. The local selections are as nepotistic as it gets.

 

Quetta Gladiators: Team Preview ​

Having finished as finalists last year, the Gladiators will be looking to go one step up this year, and win the tournament.

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Nawaz, Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Mohammad Nabi, Carlos Brathwaite, Anwar Ali, Tymal Mills, Hassan Khan, Noor Ali, Umer Amin, Saad Nasim, David Willey, Rovman Powell, Bismillah Khan, Mir Hamza

Strengths: Top order and captaincy

Like last year, the Gladiators' will depend on their top three; Luke Wright, Ahmed Shehzad and Kevin Pietersen to win games for them. Sarfraz Ahmed's captaincy also played an important role in getting them to the final last year, as his field settings and use of spinners to choke the opposition batsmen was spot on.

Weakness: Pace Bowling

While the Gladiators seem to have some good spin options in Nawaz, Nabi and Zulfiqar Babar, their pace bowling looks weak. Carlos Brathwaite has the tendency to be expensive, and Umar Gul, despite having a very good record, is well past his best. The Gladiators will hope Tymal Mills is able to bamboozle the opposition batsmen with his pace and that David Willey is available to serve them throughout their campaign, or they could be in some trouble. They would have done well to retain the likes of Grant Elliott, who stifled opposition batsmen with his medium pace, or Aizaz Cheema, who bowled quite well and was the catalyst in their qualifier victory over Peshawar Zalmi last year.

Key Player: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen has the ability to change the course of any game.
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Who else but KP ? The England batsman has had the experience of playing all around the world and will look to showcase his skills in the PSL once again this year. The young Pakistani batsmen in the Quetta camp can also learn a thing or two from a batsman of his stature.

Player to watch out for: Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad will be looking to prove a point after having been dropped from all formats for Pakistan.
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A year ago, Shehzad was a fixture at the top of the order. However, his own decline, along with Sharjeel Khan's rise has meant Shehzad being sidelined from international cricket for some time, and he will be looking to perform in the PSL to regain his spot. Coming into the tournament, he has been in good form. He was the top run scorer in the departmental cup with 653 runs at 93.28 in 9 games, and also scored his highest List A score of 163* for Islamabad in the Regional One Day cup.

It might also be worth keeping an eye on Hassan Khan , the U-19 player selected in the 'youth''category. Hassan is a batting allrounder, who bowls part time left arm spin. Another man to keep an eye on would be Rovman Powell , the hard hitting West Indian batsman who was in good form in the CPL and also made an impact in the triseries versus Sri Lanka & Zimbabwe.

Final verdict:

While the Gladiators' have a strong top order, and a captain with good tactical nous, their weak pace bowling could well let them down. If Sarfraz is able to maximise the potential of his bowlers however, they could surprise a lot of people again this year.

 

The Quetta bowling seems really really weak to me. A LOT will depend on Tymal Mills.

 

@Alchemy ruined Ahson's preview format. Not a team-player, similar to Ahmed Shehzad.

 

A lot depends on KP, he can win you any game. He's in good form in BBL.

 

I wasnt aware of any such format. Made my preview in the morning and Ahson wanted to add his own as well. So, yeah. I feel that our previews complement each other so nvm.

 

Probably have the worst bowling of all teams in PSL.

 

Lol.

Its okay; a combination of previews is good to have.

 

They were being carried by Nabi, Zulfiqar and Nawaz last year and once again those three will be enough

The more Nabi plays against quality opposition the more he seems to be improving.

 

QG feels like the indian team. Only their batting can save them.

 

PP, this time teams have reinforced themselves and have made better selections across the board. Doubt QG would be as fortunate as the last time. Nabi is a nobody, mate.

 

Spin is good, pace is weak as I said. But pace seems weaker than last yr. Atleast last year, they had Cheema & Elliott...

 

Nabi is a pretty decent A/R actually. Did well in BPL too.
Remember him smashing Zohaib Khan last year to deliver a come from behind victory vs Qalandars

 

He is a decent A/R but not equal to the level of what the competition holds. Dont know what Moin and co. were thinking when they selected the ARs and bowlers for Quetta. They also let Elliot go which was such a stupid decision.

 

I don't think Nabi is a problem, but yeah agree otherwise. Elliott and Cheema should have been persisted with, and they should have looked to strengthen their pace bowling.

 

I have my eyes on you.

 

He isn't half as smart as he thinks he is. Otherwise he would have realized that Shehzad will never be successful.

 

Didnt you always?

 

Nabi is quality.

 

Nabi is better than all our fake allrounders. Can hit big, can rotate with ease and a very good bowler.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Just like last season, my boys alongside Islamabad.

Hoping for Islamabad-Quetta final again, hopefully Quetta win it this time :shrug

 

Shahzad to whip Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar and make himself into the dominatrix of PSL 2017

 

Realistically speaking, quetta has the best chance of winning this psl. Best squad, plus they have nawaz and nabi

 

Would like a detailed answer in this regard. How?

 

Dont see Quetta reaching the final but no body expected them last time around as well.

 

Best squad? Seriously?..

 

There have been some changes made in the squad which has made Quetta stronger. Though I wish they hadn't dropped Sanga and Elliot who were in last years squad. They played really well.

They're not the best squad but have a shot at winning like last year.

 

I didnt follow the supplementary round yesterday. What were the changes?

 

KP training hard for psl.

 

KP, Shahzad, Sarfraz and co going to lead Quetta to the finals once more (probably with Lahore imo)

 

they are testing @Don Quixote theory of axing specialists