LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi’s head coach Otis Gibson delivered a glowing assessment of his team’s rising stars following their clinical win over Karachi Kings, claiming that the franchise is successfully balancing the quest for a PSL title with the development of Pakistan’s next generation of international cricketers.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gibson was particularly effusive regarding the “smooth transition” of Farhan Yousaf and the record-breaking exploits of teenage pacer Ali Raza.
Farhan Yousaf, who recently led Pakistan in the U-19 World Cup, has become a mainstay in the Zalmi XI despite not being picked in the initial auction. Gibson revealed that Yousaf’s “all-around game” and ability to shift from 50-over cricket to the high-octane T20 format has been no surprise to the coaching staff.
“From the first practice session, I was impressed with him. He’s got all the shots,” Gibson said. “Part of franchise cricket is wanting to win for your team, but we also want to develop players for the national team. We rate him so highly that he has played every single game. He’s going to be a special player.”
Zalmi’s bowling attack has undergone a forced evolution following the departure of their Bangladeshi pace duo for national duties. However, Gibson noted that the transition to Ali Raza—who became the youngest player to take a PSL hat-trick tonight—and Basit Ali has been seamless.
“Ali Raza has high pace, great intensity, and he’s a smart bowler,” Gibson remarked, adding that Raza has shown immense confidence despite being out of the side earlier in the tournament.
Of Basit Ali, Gibson noted: “He swings it beautifully and is quicker than you think. What I like most is that he is coachable; he listens and executes. Both these guys have a very high ceiling. I believe they can go all the way and play international cricket.”
When questioned about how the team has maintained such high performance levels despite the lack of crowds and external pressures, Gibson pointed to a “good camaraderie” and the presence of legendary mentors like Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, and Azhar Mahmood.
“We sit a lot and talk to those youngsters. We aren’t just working on skills in the nets; we’re talking about game management and situational awareness. It’s a joy to have so many people performing at once,” he explained.
Addressing the social media buzz surrounding his impact on Babar Azam, Gibson downplayed his role, emphasizing that managing a “great player” is about psychological reinforcement rather than technical overhauls. “Sometimes with a great player, all you need to do is remind him how great he is. You don’t focus on the bad periods; you focus on the greatness,” Gibson stated. “Babar has nearly 400 runs, he’s striking well, but more importantly, he is winning games for us.”
