Ramiz Raja rates PSL the second most popular T20 tournament in the world

PSL 2018 will get underway from Thursday in Dubai.

Captains pose with the PSL Trophy. (News 18)

Former Pakistan cricketer and Cricket Commentator –Ramiz Raja has rated the star-studded Pakistan Super League (PSL) the second most popular T20 league only behind the spectacular Indian Premier League (IPL) across the T20 leagues held in the world ahead of Big Bash League (BBL) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

On Thursday (22 February), the third edition of the PSL gets underway with the encounter between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans in Dubai, and Ramiz Raja believes that the PSL 2018 will take the country’s T20 tournament to even more exceptional heights.

In his column for Times of India, Ramiz Raja said, “Pakistan Super League has been a success story from all angles. Every year the player profile keeps increasing and improving and money keeps pouring in. Making their debuts in PSL 3 and vying for attention will be Chris Lynn, Colin Ingram, and Jofra Archer. In per-match ratio term, Pakistan Super League is second only to Indian Premier League. As the ride takes us into year three, you will get to see a larger canvas of players, a new team making an appearance and potential greats trying to outdo the known performers.”

In the previous edition of the tournament, there were a total five teams competing, but this season there will be a sixth franchise –Multan Sultans to spice up the event, and Raza said, “Multan Sultans is the latest addition to the Pakistan Super League. It is now a six-team event. Sultans’ strategy to pick three left arm quicks in Mohd. Irfan, Sohail Tanveer, and Junaid Khan is an interesting one. This choice of angle though can be a double-edged sword. It is a plot bordering on lack of variety and as such a predictable line for opposition strikers to target and make hay with little effort.”

Ramiz signed off by saying, “The spin cupboard however seems bare and shows inexperience with just Imran Tahir to lend help and hope. They have as strength, players who have international league experience in Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, who will captain them, Sohail Tanveer and Kumar Sangakkara. It could be a good group to prop up a new side and provide calmness to the dugout.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 22 Feb, 2018

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