Defending champion Islamabad fine tunes preparations ahead of HBL PSL season 10

The record three-time champions Islamabad United have already started their preparations for the HBL Pakistan Super League season 10.

Shadab Khan-led side also trained on Monday at the Islamabad Club and will be undergoing training today from 6:30 pm onwards at the Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi, which will also host their opener on April 11 against former two-time winners Lahore Qalandars.

Qalandars underwent a few days training at Lahore and would move to the federal capital on Tuesday.

United have been the most successful franchise in the PSL history, having notched title wins in 2016, 2018 and 2024 editions.

The team is being handled by head coach Mike Hesson, who belongs to New Zealand.

Colin Munro of New Zealand and Andreas Gous from the US have also joined the team.

Although United lifted the crown last year, which was their third time, but Mike Hesson says they will need to raise their standards further than last year in order to achieve the desired target.

“Well, the thoughts are that we know we need to be better than last year and I think the challenges that last year was just good enough. This year we know we need to step up again a couple of notches from last season so that started last night with the group,” Hesson said.

“It actually started post draft in terms of making sure one was really clear and what they needed to do. We have got obviously today we have got another game tomorrow in terms of preparation and then we start to taper off for our first game against Lahore Qalandars where we really get under the way,” Hesson said.

“I am very excited to be part of the Islamabad United. I think it's an extra excitement playing for the defending champions but we have got some really exciting talent, some ones that we have delighted. We picked up both at the draft and even after the draft you know we have got Mohammad Shahzad and Saad Massood. Obviously, we have got Hunain Shah back so there has been three emerging players who I am sure pretty much any team in the competition would want,” the coach said.

“And we have got some really exciting players within the group from both overseas and domestically. So, looking forward to working with them it's going to be hard to pick the team,” Hesson said.

He also appreciated batsman Sahibzada Farhan’s recent fantastic effort with the willow in the National T20 Cup which also prompted United to rope him in for the season where they will defend the title.

“Look he forced his way into the squad with his fine performance in domestic cricket and played beautifully. We are already very strong at the top of the order but he (Farhan) is in fine form at the moment,” said Hesson.

Islamabad United squad:

Matthew Short, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan, Sahibzada Farhan, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Jason Holder, Ben Dwarshuis, Salman Ali Agha, Haider Ali, Andries Gous, Colin Munro, Muhammad Nawaz, Rumman Raees, Salman Irshad, Hunain Shah, Saad Masood, Mohammad Shehzad

Supplementary: Riley Meredith, Alex Carey, Rassie van der Dussen (partially unavailable)