Pakistan Super League 8: Team Analysis - Karachi Kings


image-le2zjzgiImad Wasim will return back as Karachi Kings' skipper after PSL 2021 (Source: Twitter)

A Babar Azam-less Karachi Kings will head into this edition of the Pakistan Super League under the leadership of Imad Wasim after finishing at the bottom of the table last time around.

The Pakistan all-format captain wasn't at fault for Karachi's debacle of a season, but his captaincy had steep gaps, which also resulted in his batting form.

This season the Kings will look to repeat the wonders of 2020, but before that, let us analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of their squads.

History of Karachi Kings 

Since the inception of the PSL, Karachi Kings have qualified for the playoffs in all the seasons, barring the last edition that saw them finishing last. They won the championship in 2020.

Karachi Kings Squad

Imad Wasim (Captain), Haider Ali, Andrew Tye, Mohammad Amir, Imran Tahir, Matthew Wade, James Vince, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Akhlaq, James Fuller Shoaib Malik, Irfan Khan Niazi, Qasim Akram, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Umar, Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Ben Cutting, Musa Khan, Faisal Akram, Tabraiz Shamsi, Adam Rossington.

Batters: Sharjeel Khan, James Vince, Haider Ali, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan Niazi

All-rounders: Qasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, James Fuller, Aamer Yamin, Ben Cutting

Bowlers: Mohammad Amir, Imran Tahir, Andrew Tye, Musa Khan, Mir Hamza, Tabraiz Shamsi, Faisal Akram, Mohammad Umar

Wicket-keepers: Matthew Wade, Adam Rossington, Mohammad Akhlaq 


Strengths 

  • Formidable bowling unit: Intimidation can be the best word to describe Karachi's bowling armoury as they boast of the likes of Amir, Imad, Tye, Tahir and Shamsi. 
  • Quality overseas recruits: Vince, Cutting, Wade, Rossington, Tye and Shamsi are not hidden names in franchise cricket and with their wealth of T20 experience, these foreign players can sail Karachi's boat.

Weakness 

  • Fire-less middle-order: Leaving aside Wade, whom the Kings can also choose to open with, there is no strong middle-order prospect. While Malik no longer plays cricket regularly, Haider has lost his way in the tunnel of talent. 

Opportunities 

  • Wasim's leadership: With Babar traded to Peshawar Zalmi, Imad, the championship-winning leader, will be back at the helm. After being out of the international scene, the Kings' captaincy comes in the form of an opportunity to Imad to put his bid for a spot in the national team.
  • Tayyab's form: Tayyab, who was Pakistan's One Day Cup 2022-2023 highest run-getter, could have a career-defining PSL 8. 

Threats

  • Experience - A double-edged sword: Having the oldest squad on paper, Karachi Kings would not want the experience factor to go against them.

Prediction 

After a horrible previous season, Karachi Kings are equipped with almost all the arsenal to have a good year and at least reach the playoff stage.