Babar Azam named captain of PSL 11’s Team of the Year

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the ‘Team of the Year’ for the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, with Babar Azam named captain after finishing as the tournament’s top run-scorer.

Babar led from the front with 558 runs in 11 innings and was appointed skipper of the Team of the Year. His campaign included two centuries, scored against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.

He is joined in the side by Kusal Mendis of Peshawar Zalmi and Fakhar Zaman from Lahore Qalandars, both of whom were among the leading run-scorers of the tournament. Shan Masood, representing Multan Sultans, also secured a spot in the XI, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan of Hyderabad Kingsmen.

All-rounder Shadab Khan, who captains Islamabad United, was included after claiming 17 wickets during the season and was also named the tournament’s best all-rounder.

The bowling lineup features Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah, along with Lahore Qalandars skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Peshawar Zalmi spinner Sufyan Muqeem earned a place after an impressive campaign in which he picked up 22 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 14.40. His performance also earned him the Best Bowler and Player of the Tournament awards.

Richard Gleeson of Islamabad United was also named in the XI, while Hassan Ayaz from Quetta Gladiators was selected as the 12th player.

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No player from Karachi Kings or the Rawalpindi-based franchise were included in the final XI.

The PCB also unveiled the HBL PSL 11 Emerging Team of the Year, featuring Sameer Minhas, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Baig, Farhan Yousuf, Saad Masood, Hunain Shah, Ali Raza, Mohammad Ismail, Ubaid Shah, Momin Qamar and Mohammad Farooque, highlighting a group of promising young players from the tournament.