The eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL Season 8) is in its eighth season currently. The popular franchise-based league began on 13th February 2023 in a spectacular ceremony in Multan. The Final is slated to be played on 19th March.

We are almost halfway through the group stage of the league, with some mouth-watering clashes witnessed throughout. The title-defenders Lahore Qalandars are currently leading the table with 8 points (4W 1L).

This year’s Draft saw some really exciting trades and buys for different franchises. A lot of players were pitted face-to-face with their ex-franchises, and they did manage to put up some memorable performances against them. Let’s have a look at the five times a player came back to haunt their ex-franchise:

Players who came back to haunt their ex-franchise in PSL Season 8

1. Babar Azam (68 runs from 46 balls with an SR of 147.82) vs Karachi Kings

The national team captain Babar Azam was traded with Peshawar Zalmi for Haider Ali & Shoaib Malik by Karachi Kings in this year’s PSL Season 8 Draft after spending six seasons with them.

Babar-led Karachi Kings had a horrible last season (PSL 7) where they could only win one game out of 10 and were knocked out from the group stage. A lot of questions were raised about the captaincy of the opening batter by the media. His disagreements with Imad Wasim over the captaincy issue & his row with Mohammad Amir meant that the clash against Karachi Kings was going to be big and was pretty much hyped by the media as well.

In the clash against Imad-led Karachi, Babar scored a scintillating 68 runs from 46 balls with seven 4’s & one six at a strike rate of 147.82 while batting first. A strong bowling lineup containing M.Amir, Mir Hamza, Imad & Imran Tahir were unable to stop the Zalmi skipper. He formed a lethal partnership of 139 runs from 81 balls with Tom Kohler after the early loss of two wickets to give a healthy target of 200 to Kings.

Memorable moment: Cover drive four to Mohammad Amir in his first over.

2. Azam Khan (97 runs from 42 balls at an SR of 230.95) vs Quetta Gladiators

Azam Khan joined Islamabad United in PSL 2022 Draft after spending four seasons with Quetta Gladiators.

With scrutiny over his fitness, Azam has already faced a lot of body shaming and criticism over his weight, but that hasn’t stopped him from performing in the shortest format of the game all around the globe. In the 13th match against his old franchise Quetta Gladiators, Azam came in when Islamabad was struggling at 43-3 in 6.2 overs with players like Gurbaz, Russie & Shadab back in the pavilion already, courtesy of some fiery spells from Hasnain & Naseem.

But who knew that the carnage was yet to come? Azam Khan unleashed himself against the likes of M. Nawaz, Naseem & Hasnain, taking apart any bowler that came up against him. His last 13 balls yielded 46 runs with a hat trick of sixes to Hasnain in the 19th over. He went on to make 97 runs from 42 balls with nine 4’s & eight 6’s at a strike rate of 230.95 but was unlucky to miss out on a well deserved century when he was dismissed on the last ball of the innings.

Memorable moment: Hat trick of sixes to Mohammad Hasnain in the 19th over.

Also read: Ihsanullah – The Latest Pakistani Speed Sensation

3. Mohammad Rizwan (110 runs from 64 balls at an SR of 171.87) vs Karachi Kings

Mohammad Rizwan played for Karachi Kings from 2018 to 2020, where he hardly made appearances. Justifications over his low strike rate & inability to hit sixes were given by the then-captain Imad Wasim.

It all turned around when Multan picked Rizwan in the PSL 2021 Draft & made him their captain. He repaid their faith with some scintillating performances throughout the tournament and led them to their first-ever PSL title.

Rizwan faced his old franchise in the 11th game of PSL this season. Multan batted first as their skipper & Shan, made 85 for the opening partnership. The platform was set. Rizwan reached his fifty from a cautious 42 deliveries, but his next 22 balls yielded 60 as he reached his century from 60 balls with ten 4’s and four 6’s.

Memorable moment: Two big back-to-back sixes to Akif Javed.

4. Rilee Rossouw (78 runs from 42 balls at a SR of 185.71) vs Quetta Gladiators

Rilee Rossouw played for Quetta Gladiators from 2017 to 2019. He was a key part in their middle order when they became champions in the 2019 edition.

Rossouw got picked by Multan in the 2020 draft, and he became a double champion with them when they won the PSL 2021.

The third match of PSL season 8 saw Rossouw up against his former side. Chasing a mere 111 runs, he came on to bat after the fall of an early wicket. While Quetta hoped to make this a low-scoring thriller but Rossouw had other plans as he made a mockery of their bowling. Four successive boundaries off Thushara got their chase going & he never looked back. He brought up his fifty from just 33 balls and went on to score 78 runs from 42 balls with nine 4’s & three 6’s.

Memorable moment: Four successive boundaries off Thushara to get Multan’s chase going.

5. Martin Guptill (117 runs from 67 balls at an SR of 174.62) vs Karachi Kings

Martin Guptill was part of the Karachi Kings during PSL 2021. He had a horrible tournament, managing to score only 69 runs from six games at an average of only 11.50.

He was picked up by the Gladiators in the PSL Season 8 draft. In the sixth game against his ex-franchise, he smashed 117 runs from only 67 balls at a strike rate of 174.62 with twelve 4’s & five 6’s. He scored 70% of his team’s total runs & almost carried his bat as he was dismissed on the final ball of the innings.

Quetta batted first as Guptill opened the innings, but wickets kept falling around him as they slipped to 23-4 in 6.1 overs. At one stage, it looked like the Gladiators won’t even go past 100, but the Kiwi had other plans. He formed a crucial partnership of 69 runs with Iftikhar Ahmed. But as the latter was dismissed, he took the matter into his own hands. He reached his fifty from a mere 44 balls but his next 23 balls were absolute carnage that yielded him 66 runs. In the 19th over, he smashed 30 runs (3x4s & 3×6’s) against Tye, as each delivery went for a boundary. His solo effort made Quetta reach a fighting total of 168 which looked impossible at one stage.

Memorable moment: Smashes 30 runs in one over against Tye with three 6’s and as many 4’s.

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