Islamabad United in 2016 was one of the five original teams that played in the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League, a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket competition held in the United Arab Emirates. The team won the 2016 competition after finishing third in the group stage and qualifying for the play off rounds.
Background Islamabad United is a franchise cricket team which nominally represents the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad. The team plays in the Pakistan Super League which, in 206, took place in the United Arab Emirates. The franchise is owned by Leonine Global Sports, a UAE-based company, which bought it for US$15 million for a 10-year period in 2015.
Team anthem The 2016 team anthem, Chakka Choka, was written, composed and sung by Ali Zafar. It was released on 30 January 2016 with a music video released on 8 February 2016.
Squad
Players with international caps before the start of the 2016 PSL season are listed in bold.Islamabad United all set to take PSL on, Dunya News, 4 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
NameNationalityBatting styleBowling styleNotes BatsmenSharjeel Khan Left-handed Right-arm leg spin Babar Azam Right-handed Right-arm off spinMisbah-ul-Haq Right-handed Right-arm leg spin CaptainKhalid Latif Right-handed Right-arm off spin Hussain Talat Left-handed Right-arm medium Umar Siddiq Left-handed Right-arm off spin Asif Ali Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast All-RoundersShane Watson Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Azhar Mahmood Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Ashar Zaidi Left-handed Left-arm orthodox spinKamran Ghulam Right-handed Left-arm orthodox spinImran Khalid Left-handed Left-arm orthodox spin Umar Amin Left-handed Right-arm medium Dwayne Smith Right-handed Right-arm medium OverseasAndre Russell Right-handed Right-arm fast Overseas Wicket-keepersSam Billings Right-handed — OverseasBrad Haddin Right-handed — Overseas BowlersSaeed Ajmal Right-handed Right-arm off spin Mohammad Irfan Right-handed Left-arm fast Mohammad Sami Right-handed Right-arm fast Samuel Badree Right-handed Right-arm leg spin OverseasRumman Raees Right-handed Left-arm medium-fast Amad Butt Right-handed Right-arm fast
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
Shirt sponsor (chest) Shirt sponsor (back) Chest branding Sleeve brandingDosteaDunya NewsDostea
Season summary
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.http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/sports/islamabad-united-beat-karachi-kings-by-nine-wickets/, ""Daily Pakistan"" 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
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 to the final against Quetta Gladiators.
The 2016 Pakistan Super League Final was won by Islamabed by six wickets.http://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/324085-Islamabad-United-all-set-to-face-Quetta-Gladiators/, ""Dunya News"" 21 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016. 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 with an unbeaten 61, allowing United to score 174 for four with eight balls remaining and winning the title alongside Cash Price of $500,000.http://espncricinfo.com/pakistan-super-league-2015-16/content/story/975697.html/ , ""ESPN Cric Info"" 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.http://tribune.com.pk/story/1053169/islamabad-crowned-psl-champions/, ""Express Tribune"" 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
Matches No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorecard link 1 4 February Quetta Gladiators Dubai International Cricket Stadium Lost by 8 wicketsScorecard 2 5 February Peshawar Zalmi Dubai International Cricket Stadium Lost by 24 runs Scorecard 3 7 February Karachi Kings Dubai International Cricket Stadium Won by 2 runsScorecard 4 10 February Lahore Qalandars Sharjah Cricket Stadium Won by 8 wicketsScorecard 5 11 February Quetta Gladiators Sharjah Cricket Stadium Lost by 7 wickets Scorecard 6 12 February Peshawar Zalmi Sharjah Cricket Stadium Lost by 7 wickets Scorecard 7 14 February Karachi Kings Sharjah Cricket Stadium Won by 5 wickets Scorecard 8 17 February Lahore Qalandars Dubai International Cricket Stadium Won by 5 wickets Scorecard 9 20 February Karachi Kings(Eliminator) Dubai International Cricket Stadium Won by 9 wickets Scorecard 10 21 February Peshawar Zalmi (Qualifier 2) Dubai International Cricket Stadium Won by 50 run Scorecard 11 23 February Quetta Gladiators (Final) Dubai International Cricket Stadium Won by 6 wickets Scorecard
References