Fantasy Picks: Go with the experience of Babar and Watson at the top
Babar, the world's number one T20 international batsman, has found form lately while Watson will be keen to finish off on a high
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Mar-2020
March 15: PSL - Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, Karachi
Our XI: Shane Watson, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Amir, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Hasnain, Fawad Ahmed/Naseem Shah
Captain: Babar Azam
The No. 1 T20I batsman in the world had a couple of hiccups in the middle of the tournament but has found his feet in grand style. He is the highest run-getter in the PSL currently, to nobody's surprise. Azam averages 67.36 in all T20s at the National Stadium, the best among all batsmen with 300+ runs at the venue.
Vice Captain: Shane Watson
Watson will get one final opportunity in the tournament. He has played a few cracking knocks but just one big innings. Watson will be keen to finish on a high and we are backing him to do so.
Hot Picks
Ahmed Shehzad
Shehzad will get an opportunity at the top of the order as Jason Roy will no longer take part in the tournament. It could be a blessing in disguise for him as well as his team. He averages 28.42 as an opener in the PSL, striking at 124.56 opposed to his average of 19.85 at No. 3 and strike rate of 97.88.
Ben Cutting
Cutting has been the ideal allrounder for the Gladiators. He has scored 146 runs at a strike rate of 192.1 and has also picked up eight wickets in the six games he has played this season. Though the team isn't doing well, he is getting a lot of points and we back him to continue doing the same.
Mohammad Amir
The highest wicket-taker for the Kings in the tournament so far, Amir has picked up ten wickets at an economy of 7.58. Amir, in fact, has the best economy in the powerplay (5.68) in PSL 2020 among all bowlers who have bowled fifty or more balls.
Imad Wasim
Wasim has picked up 4 wickets in the tournament at an economy of 7.44. He could promote himself up the order in the absence of Alex Hales. He scored a fifty in the only innings he batted at number 4 in this PSL. His all-round abilities make him a must-have.
Value Picks
Sarfaraz Ahmed
The Gladiators skipper has played some productive innings of thirties and forties. He has scored 146 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 132.72 so far. Big match, must-win match and he could make a valuable contribution.
Points to note
The average 1st innings score at the National Stadium in PSL 2020 is 163.
Pacers have gone at 7.77 while spinners have gone at 9.38 at the venue in the tournament.