Allsportspk presents another of its unique original pieces – SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, which is based on three factors: Audience Feedback, Expert Opinions, Team Performances during PSL 2018.
Pakistan Super League’s third edition will witness its final match in Karachi between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. The journey that these two teams have made to reach this final hurdle have been very different.
United have been clinical in their approach as after losing their first few matches they found the winning combination and never looked back from there. Zalmi on the other hand sailed their boat on dangerous waters but they came out of the storm as they won their two eliminators; one against Quetta and the other against Karachi. The points table appended below at the end gives an edge as Islamabad United was on the top with 14 points as to 10 points of Peshawar Zalmi.
Islamabad United had won the PSL’s first season followed by Peshawar Zalmi who won the second one. Both teams have a chance to wear the crown a second time and take the trophy home.
Both teams, although well-balanced, do hold an edge over one another. So, in this Allsportspk SWOT Analysis provides an objective outlook to the teams through numerical method.
Methodology: A score of 1-10 is given based on seven parameters. The team with the higher total, is considered as the expected winner.
| Parameters | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting | Power-Hitting | Lower-Order | Can Focus more on building partnerships | No one to build the innings after their star batsman falls | 7 |
| Bowling | Excellent pair Death-Bowlers | Lack one more spinner | Should bowl more Yorkers. Rely on short balls too often |
Lack of tight middle overs | 8 |
| Fielding | Excellent slip catching | Lack of boundary riders | More practice before the match can help | Dropped catches can easily cost them the match | 7 |
| Previous Performances |
Defending Champions; Winners of the last season | Over-Confidence | Can win this time to become consecutive winners of PSL | Islamabad United who has also won the first season of the PSL | 9 |
| Injury Factor | None | Skipper of the Zalmi team; The backbone of his team Darren Sammy is injured | Darren Sammy has to find a way to overcome his injury | Islamabad will target Sammy and they have a chance to get his wicket quite easily | 6 |
| Audience Support | Zalmi fans are expected to be in large numbers | None | Expand their already big fan base | None | 10 |
| Weather | Hasan and Wahab will get a lot of reverse swing | Foreign players may not cope up with Karachi’s weather | In case of bowling first, bowl out Islamabad to a low total in swinging conditions | Mohammad Sami who will be a threat with his express pace | 7 |
| Total | 54 |
| Parameters | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting | Excellent partnership makers | Overly dependent on the top order | Can promote their power hitters up the order | Inability to sometimes post a big total after a bad start | 9 |
| Bowling | Ability to bowl the new ball and take wickets | Gift runs in the Death overs | Can stop giving overs to part timers who go for a lot of runs | Opposition feasts on their part time bowlers | 7 |
| Fielding | Overall ability to hold on to the ball | None | None | None | 10 |
| Previous Performances | Hold the top position in the PSL’s point table. PSL Season one winners | None | Become 2 time champions of PSL | Facing Defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi | 9 |
| Injury Factor | None | None | None | None | 10 |
| Audience Support | Not much throughout the tournament | Lack of superstars. | Individual players can perform and extend their fan base in front of a huge crowd | Peshawar Zalmi fans in large numbers are expected to show at Karachi | 5 |
| Weather | Swinging conditions bowlers like Sami will benefit | Foreign players like Ronchi will struggle | Local players have to step up if foreign players fail | Zalmi bowlers like Hassan and Wahab can destroy Islamabad’s batting lineup | 6 |
| Total | 56 |
So, according to the SWOT report compiled, the Final will be a close battle of nerves, however, numerically – Islamabad United creeps ahead of Zalmi as the winners. These are just statistical scores and they do not reflect the pressure that both teams will have when they will face each other in the final.
Please comment below about the analysis. And if you want do your own SWOT analysis. Good luck!
PSL 2018: Points Table
| Teams | P | W | L | D | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0.296 |
| Karachi Kings | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0.028 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0.464 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0.312 |
| Multan Sultans | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | -0.191 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -0.931 |
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