Islamabad United

For the football club, see Islamabad United (football).
Islamabad United
اسلام‌آباد یونئٹڈ
League: Pakistan Super League
Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Coach: Dean Jones
City: Islamabad
Colours:
Owner: Leonine Global Sports Ltd (Ali Naqvi & Amna Naqvi)
Founded: 2015
PSL wins: 1
Official website: islamabadunited.com

Islamabad United (Urdu: اسلام‌آباد یونئٹڈ) is a Pakistani professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that competes in the Pakistan Super League. The team is based in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan and was formed in 2015 to compete in the first season of the Pakistan Super League. The franchise is owned by Leonine Global Investments through its sports entity Leonine Global Sports.[1]

The team was captained in its first season by Pakistan's most successful test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coached by former Australian player Dean Jones. The team director is former Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram.[2][3]

Franchise history

In 2015, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League would take place in February 2016 in the United Arab Emirates.[4] On 3 December 2015, the PCB unveiled the owners of five city-based franchises. The Islamabad franchise was sold to Leonine Global Sports for US$15 Million.[1]

Team History

Islamabad United's after win Celebration

After a poor start to the 2016 Pakistan Super League tournament Islamabad United finished third in the round robin group stage, qualifying for the knock out stage of the tournament. The team won four matches out of eight, finishing with eight points from their group games.

They faced fourth placed Karachi Kings in the eliminator, winning by nine wickets thanks to Mohammad Sami's man of the match performance of five wickets for eight runs from four overs. Brad Haddin and Dwayne Smith each scored fifties as United achieved their target of111 in the 15th over.[5]

In the second qualifier match Islamabad met Peshawar Zalmi. Sharjeel Khan scored 117 from 62 balls, the first century scored in the Pakistan Super League. It proved to be the difference between the teams as United posted 176 for 3 and Zalmi were bowled out for 126 with two full overs to go. United, spinner Imran Khalid took four wickets for 20 runs and Andre Russell three for 37. The win took United through the the final against Quetta Gladiators.

The 2016 Pakistan Super League Final was won by Islamabed by six wickets.[6] United opted to bowl first after winning the toss and the Gladiators scored 174-7 in their 20 overs. Andre Russell, who finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, took three for 37. In reply United started well with Dwayne Smith scoring 73 runs and Brad Haddin an unbeaten 61, allowing United to score 174 for four with eight balls remaining and win the title.[7][8]

Team identity

The team logo and name was revealed on 22 December 2015 in a ceremony held at the Polo Club in Islamabad. The logo features a lion.[9] The team's primary colours are red and orange.[10]

The team's theme song, Chakka Choka, was performed by Ali Zafar, the star brand ambassador of the team. The second brand ambassador was Fawad Khan.[11]

Dostea is the main sponsor and shirt sponsor of the team while Cinepax and GLO Merchandise were merchandise sponsors in the first season of the PSL.[12] Dunya News and FM 101 are their news and entertainment partners respectively in first season.[13]

2016 squad

Misbah ul Haq is the Captain of Islamabad United
Shane Watson is the icon player of Islamabad United

Players with international caps are listed in bold.[14]

Name Nat. Batting Style Bowling Style Notes
Batsmen
Sharjeel Khan Pakistan Left-hand Right-arm leg spin
Babar Azam Pakistan Right-hand Right-arm off spin
Misbah-ul-Haq Pakistan Right-hand - Captain
Khalid Latif Pakistan Right-hand Right-arm off Spin
Hussain Talat Pakistan Left-hand Right arm medium
Umar Siddiq Pakistan Left-hand Right-arm off spin
All-Rounders
Shane Watson Australia Right-hand Right arm fast medium First overseas player picked in PSL[15]
Azhar Mehmood England Right-hand Right-Arm Medium Overseas
Ashar Zaidi England Left-hand Left Arm orthodox Overseas
Kamran Ghulam Pakistan Right-hand Left arm orthodox
Umar Amin Pakistan Left-hand Right-arm medium
Dwayne Smith West Indies Cricket Board Right-hand Right-arm Medium Overseas
Andre Russell West Indies Cricket Board Right-hand Right arm Fast bowling Overseas
Wicket-keepers
Sam Billings England Right-hand — Overseas
Brad Haddin Australia Right-hand — Overseas
Bowlers
Saeed Ajmal Pakistan Right-hand Right arm off Spin
Mohammad Irfan Pakistan Right-hand Left arm fast
Mohammad Sami Pakistan Right-hand Right arm fast
Samuel Badree West Indies Cricket Board Right-hand Right arm leg spin Overseas
Rumman Raees Pakistan Right-hand Left arm medium fast
Amad Butt Pakistan Right-hand Right arm fast
Imran Khalid Pakistan Left-hand Left arm orthodox spin

Management and coaching staff

Name Position
Leonine Global Sports Owner
Pakistan Wasim Akram Director/Bowling Coach
Australia Dean Jones Head Coach
Pakistan Tauseef Ahmed Assistant Coach
Australia Darren Berry Fielding Coach

Captains

No. Nat Player From To Mat Won Lost tie NR %
1 Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq 2016 Present 9 6 3 0 0 66.67
2 Australia Shane Watson 2016 2016 2 1 1 0 0 50.00

Result summary

Performance summary in Pakistan Super League
Year Pld Won Loss NR Tied SR(%) Position Summary
2016 1174 - - 63.63% 1 Champions

Head-to-head record

Opposition Span Mat Won Lost Tied NR Success Rate
Karachi Kings 2016–present 3 3 0 0 0 100.00%
Lahore Qalandars 2016–present 2 2 0 0 0 100.00%
Peshawar Zalmi 2016–present 3 1 2 0 0 33.33%
Quetta Gladiators 2016–present 3 1 2 0 0 33.33%

[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pakistan Super League: Seven Companies fight it out to buy franchises". Express etribune. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Pakistan Super League, Day 1: Younis Khan unsold as Misbah ul-Haq picked by Islamabad United". Zee News.
  3. ↑ Ali, Sarah. "Islamabad United". HBL Pakistan Super League. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Pakistan Super League T20 in UAE seeks to rival India's IPL". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. ↑ http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/sports/islamabad-united-beat-karachi-kings-by-nine-wickets/, ""Daily Pakistan"" 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  6. ↑ http://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/324085-Islamabad-United-all-set-to-face-Quetta-Gladiators/, ""Dunya News"" 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  7. ↑ http://espncricinfo.com/pakistan-super-league-2015-16/content/story/975697.html/, ""ESPN Cric Info"" 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  8. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1053169/islamabad-crowned-psl-champions/, ""Express Tribune"" 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  9. ↑ "LGS unveils Islamabad United’s logo for PSL". Aaj News.
  10. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1093733/proposed-changes-in-psl-to-face-resistance/, The Express Tribune, 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  11. ↑ http://thenewstribe.com/2016/01/28/islamabad-united-partners-with-the-ali-zafar-fawad-khan/, The News Tribe, 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  12. ↑ http://shop-glo.com/collections/islamabad-united-official-merchandise/, ""Shop-GLO"" 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  13. ↑ http://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/320358-Islamabad-United-unleashes-kit-anthem/, ""Dunya News"" 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  14. ↑ Islamabad United all set to take PSL on, Dunya News, 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  15. ↑ "PSL T20 2016 draft". Cricket Country. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  16. ↑ "PSL Points Table 2016". PSL T20. Retrieved 2016-02-07.

External links

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