Pindiz, the most expensive PSL team, have grabbed the attention of netizens with their off-the-field activities. However, they have also assembled a pretty decent squad for the tournament and can be serious contenders for at least the playoff spots.
Schedule
28th March – vs Peshawar Zalmi – Gaddafi Stadium
2nd April – vs Karachi Kings – Gaddafi Stadium
4th April – vs Islamabad United – Gaddafi Stadium
6th April – vs Multan Sultans – Gaddafi Stadium
10th April – vs Quetta Gladiators – National Stadium
16th April – vs Hyderabad Kingsmen – National Stadium
18th April – vs Lahore Qalandars – National Stadium
21st April – vs Multan Sultans – National Stadium
23rd April – vs Islamabad United – National Stadium
26th April – vs Hyderabad Kingsmen – National Stadium
28th April – Qualifier – National Stadium
29th April – Eliminator 1 – Gaddafi Stadium
1st May – Eliminator 2 – Gaddafi Stadium
3rd May – Final – Gaddafi Stadium
Top Order
Pindiz have a very local-focused top order but still have a variety of options in their squad. They have an experienced and fiery option in Yasir Khan, who, before this National T20 Cup edition, averaged 38 and had a strike rate of 172 against pacers in the powerplay. He is one of the most explosive openers against pacers in Pakistan; though, he can slightly struggle against inward spin early on, which was also his Achilles’ heel in the PSL previously as well.
Another option is their skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, who might not be having the best of his time in T20 cricket currently, but still, over the last year or so, has looked comfortable against right-arm pacers, especially in the powerplay, with a strike rate of 145.
But Rizwan struggles against left-arm bowlers and right-arm off spin, as he averages just 23 versus both types in the powerplay.
Pindiz, however, are spoilt for choice at the top. Against spin, they can conveniently count on Abdullah Fazal and Shahzaib Khan. Abdullah has the skillset of a true Karachiite against spinners, and he has translated that into T20 exceptionally. In his only T20 century, he had a strike rate of 187 against spinners, as he made Usman Tariq look ordinary with a 200+ strike rate against him.
Shahzaib Khan, meanwhile, has taken a different route in the current National T20 Cup, anchoring a high-scoring chase with Kamran Ghulam and then playing the main role in another chase himself.
He averages 99 against spin in the recent List A tournament, but his strike rate of just 69 shows he lacks a bit of intent in that department. In this National T20, however, he has visibly evolved his game.
In the first fifty that came against Multan, Shahzaib slowed down after the power play, going from 35 off 20 to just 16 off the next 21 balls. However, in the next game, he replaced that lean phase with an even more aggressive hitting, going from 46 off 20 to 29 off 18 balls.
Middle Order
Now, Daryl Mitchell used to be a top-order batter for the Kiwis but has recently shifted to the number 5-6 position. Given how much variety Pindiz has in the top order, they will probably play Mitchell there as well.
Since 2025, he has struggled against pacers a bit; however, his strike rate has still been above 150 against them, while against spin, he is still elite with an average of 54 and a strike rate of 141.
Kamran Ghulam has been in a great run of form in the National T20 this year; however, he has some struggles against high pace. In PSL, previously, he has been very good against finger spin but not that aggressive against wrist spin.
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Plus, with the likes of Abdullah Fazal and Shahzaib Khan, Kamran Ghulam might not get much game time.
Pindiz also secured Sam Billings, who has been very instrumental in Lahore Qalandars’ recent success and is surely currently one of the most consistent overseas middle-order batters in PSL. Besides, Billings is an amazing pace hitter at the death overs with a strike rate of over 200 since 2024.
There’s Laurie Evans as well, who can be a decent backup for the same role of number 5 or late middle overs pace hitter.
Spin Attack
Pindiz took quality over quantity in terms of their spin attack in this PSL, signing Asif Afridi and Rishad Hossain. Asif Afridi is a very wily spinner, but a conventional left-arm orthodox spinner; he is quite good at varying his pace and flight.
Another interesting thing about him is the fact that his record in PSL is comparatively better against left-handed batters compared to right-handed batters, which is contradictory to the common matchup belief of SLAs being effective against right-handers only.
Rishad Hossain is another one of the modern leg spinners who bowl quicker through the air and maintain the balance between googlies and leg spin, if not more googlies. Also, he can be a decent batting option for number 8/9 to whack a few if necessary.
Even with his bowling only, he can be a very valuable T20 asset.
A late addition to the squad was Saad Masood in a trade with Multan Sultans, who is also a modern-day leg spinner like Rishad Hussain, albeit with a more striking batting ability than the Bangladesh spinner.
Pace Attack
Pindiz chose to be a pace-heavy team this year, with the likes of Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and M Amir Khan, along with Amad Butt’s all-round ability.
In the two Amirs, Pindiz has a good opening pair of fast bowlers with different variations. Mohammad Amir is still a very good bowler in the power play, especially because of his ability to switch to a defensive style when necessary.
Similarly, Amir Khan is a decent option with his medium pace and swing up top. Along with him, there’s Fawad Ali and Jalat Khan with their express pace and ability to fill up that enforcer role, especially in the middle overs, along with spinners from the other end.
Naseem Shah started brilliantly in his career as a new ball bowler, but his recent form, especially since the ILT20, has been more effective in middle overs and death overs, as he has worked on his pace variations as well as short bowling in recent times.
There are other options in the Pindiz squad in this department, like Amad Butt and part-time bowling of Dian Forrestor.
Pindiz Preferred Playing XI:
1- Shahzaib Khan
2- Yasir Khan
3- Rizwan
4- Abdullah Fazal/Shahzaib Khan
5- Daryl Mitchell
6- Sam Billings
7- Rishad Hussain
8- Asif Afridi
9- Naseem Shah
10- Mohammad Amir
11- Jalat Khan/Fawad Ali
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