PSL 7: Which team has the more chances to win the title of PSL7?

Introduction:

This article is all about the PSL 7 play offs and who have the higher chance to win the PSL7 title. As we all know PSL7 isn arching towards the final stage. We have some nail bitter matches, some one sided & some emotional attachments through out the tournament which we all are going to miss in coming days. We have witnessed some excellent piece of work both by ground staff, PCB, officials etc. Also we have seen some ups and down like James Faulkner’s incident and some other foreigners left PSL due to personal reason that might they wanted to relax themselves for IPL. Some teams faced many injuries. This PSL is having one of the most ups and down as compared to previous ones, excluding Corona’s situation. After all these from 23 Feb, 2022 the play offs are going to played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. 4 team qualified are Multan Sultan, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalman & Islamabad United.

1. Multan Sultans & Lahore Qalandars:

Let’s discuss about the table toppers of the round matches. On 23rd Feb, 2022 Multan Sultan and Lahore Qalandars will play 1st qualifier and both of them will try to book their place in Final without taking any other chance. Both have equal piece of chances to win the 1st Qualifier, but the one who will loose will have the other chance to qualify for the finals and they will play 2nd eliminator on 25th Feb, 2022. This is the advantage of top team that they will get one more chance to prove their worth, form which they are carrying through the round matches.

Multan Sultan is the team which is looking so far most dangerous one in this PSL as they are hot favourite to defend the title of PSL. They won 9 matches out of 10 in round matches which is most by team ever in the history of PSL till round stage. They are doing proper team work, their atmosphere, their appreciation to other players/ backups everything is going so perfect. They don’t have big names but they rely upon combinations. Opener left-right combination Rizwan and Shan Masood. No need to discuss about Rizwan as we all know he is the T20 Cricketer of the year of 2021. Shan Masood proving his worth for Multan Sultans as batter since last 3 seasons but this this he is also one of the top 3 leading runs scorer at the moment of PSL 7. Then Sohail Maqsood follows by the dangerous Tim David, Khusdil Shah and Rilee Roussow. Then come to bowling department Imran Tahir, Khushdil Shah doing perfectly what they have to do. Khushdil is also in top 3 leading wicket taker of this PSL season. They are utilizing the match ups so perfectly, taking risks when they needed over all brave decisions on the ground that a particular team should need to do. Then fast bowlers in shape of Dahani the highest wicket taker of PSL6 also got 13 wickets this season, then Imran Khan. Means everything thing is going in their way. Surely they have 45% Chances to defend the title successfully. Which might be record as well a team defended the title successfully.

Lahore Qalandars looking like a hungry tiger. They were bashed, trolled badly over the last 6 season except one in which they have played final back in 2020 PSL5. But this time they have played some sensible tactics at drafting. There team looked so balance from the start for the very 1st time. They didn’t only went for big names, hitters this time but they also picked some sensible and domestic performers who gave them resilience in the batting lineup. Bowling was always their strong zone but main problem was of their batting. They always go for the hitting and get back to pavilion to early and defeated heavily. But this time Fakhar the top runs scorer who need only 34 runs to break the record of Babar Azam record of highest runs score in one season of PSL, he is the man with highest runs this year which includes 7 fifties in 10 innings of round matches. He looked so compact. He is the main reason why Lahore Qalandars are doing so well in this season, then along with him Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Hafeez, Harry Brooks, David Wiese a perfect lineup which lineup which a team needed to have. Hitting, resilience everything they have. Their bowling department is one the best anyone can have. Unfortunately Rashid left the PSL after 9 matches but the comfort he has provided to the team is un matchable the magician they called very well aware of him. Then Shaheen the player of the year of 2021. No need to discuss about him simply they can’t play him. Then fast and furious Haris Rauf and the Emerging talent Zaman Khan. Everyone is having hunger for the PSL title and will try to win it for Lahore Qalandars for the very 1st time. After Multan Sultan Lahore Qalandars having 2nd most chances of winning the title of PSL7. 35% chances of Lahore Qalandars that they will be able to win it this time.

2. Peshawar Zalmi & Islamabad United:

Peshawar and Islamabad is having 3rd and 4rth spot on the points table respectively and unfortunately they can’t avail the advantage what the toppers can. Each and every match for them is knockout match. If they loose they will go to home. Both team. Faces slot of problems while making team combinations because of injuries and the foreigner players who left the tournaments in between the tournament because of bubble fatigue and personal reasons. Both are much effected teams but Islamabad faced more troubles.

Peshawar Zalami is the only team who have qualified for playoffs in every PSL seasons. You can’t write them off but this time they are looking little weaker but balanced as they are focusing more on local talent. Very few foreigners are available, Livingstone, Rutherford left. They are giving chances to youngsters who are energetic. So far they are succeeded in this but eliminator’s pressure is something different. Yes they have all the potential to win the title but relatively less to Lahore and Multan. They might have 15% chances to win the title. But one thing for sure they gave chances to Muhammad Haris indeed a future star. Just need similar kind of more chances in up coming season a perfect backup of Rizwan and Kamran loading if he don’t ruin himself. Shoaib Malik form is also very much crucial for us. Just need to perform similar in WT20 2022 if selected.

Islamabad United by seeing this team in PSL7 one thing came in mind “How the mighty have fallen”. From the team “it’s difficult to beat Islamabad United because they have strong and long batting line up and goof bowling options” to “Bazid bhai we have just completed our team. There is no one available but it’s difficult for us to complete for playing XI”. In start they are one of the hot favourite team then injuries, and Foreigners who opted out from PSL 7 due to national duties and Personal reason hurts them the most. Hales, Stirling, Gurbaz, Shadab, Faheem, Hassan Ali look all the big name wo didn’t able to participate after their concerned reasons. They might get some momentum back if Shadab, Faheem, Hasan gets fit and according to rumors if Stirling and Hales come back in playoffs which might help this team to lift up. Otherwise there is almost only 5% chances of them to win the title. A surely season to forgot for Islamabad United.

Conclusions:

A very exciting PSL season 7 with a lot of memories, ups & down, some tried to ditch and defame us, some tried to lift our country’s respect up, some fights during this PSL season, some funny moments all are going to vanished in some days then this will become a past and only memories will be alive. Though a very good season for some teams but for some teams it’s a nightmare, it’s cricket and cricket will show you the exact meaning of life, ups and downs may come but you just can’t give up and focus on your hardwork and grab the next opportunity whenever you get. So, Goodluck all teams who qualified for the Playoffs. Best wishes, may the best team wins who perform better on the day.