Quality of pace bowling in PSL is better than IPL, says Alex Hales

The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is up and running and as expected, it is receiving good support from the local fans. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the entire competition is being held in Pakistan. In the previous four seasons, the entire competition or a major part of it was held in UAE due to the security reasons.

The entire first edition of the PSL in 2016 was staged in the United Arab Emirates before the PCB held the 2017 final at Lahore. In 2018, four matches were organized at Lahore and Karachi – with the rest in the UAE – while last year Karachi hosted eight matches. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to host the entire tournament in Pakistan this year and it is turning out to be a success.

The fans have been attending the game in large numbers and the quality of the games is equally good. The tournament is looking more competitive than ever as most of the teams have started their campaigns in fine fashion.

Multan Sultans are currently at the top of the points table with 4 wins from 5 games while Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings have 3 wins each from 5 games. Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United have managed two wins each from 6 games while Lahore Qalandars are yet to win any match.

‘IPL has more spinners to pick from’: Alex Hales

With the PSL being in full flow right now, Karachi Kings‘ English recruit Alex Hales has said that the quality of pace bowling in PSL is better than that in IPL. The England opener, who went unsold in the last IPL auction, said that while IPL has better spinners, when it comes to pacers, the PSL is the best in the world.

“IPL has more spinners to pick from, but here at the PSL the seam bowling is the toughest you will face anywhere in the world. I’d rank it certainly right up there,” Alex Hales was quoted as saying by Pakistani journalist Saj Sadiq in his tweet.

Alex Hales "IPL has more spinners to pick from, but here at the PSL the seam bowling is the toughest you will face anywhere in the world. I'd rank it certainly right up there" #PSL5

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 2, 2020

Meanwhile, Hales played an impressive knock against Zalmi on Monday as Karachi Kings won the game by six wickets. He blasted 49 from just 27 balls to help his side chase down 152 inside 18 overs. Apart from Hales, Babar Azam also impressed by scoring 70.