PSL TEAM OF THE WEEK: Who joins Chris Lynn and Naseem Shah in the latest XI?

As the group stage comes to an end, The Cricketer looks at which players have starred during the penultimate week of the six-team competition

• "It was the unknown that was the biggest fear factor" – Tymal Mills on PSL departure
• Lynn leads Qalandars departures

Sharjeel Khan

With just six completed matches during the week, the 30-year-old could claim to be one of the players of the week. He guided Karachi Kings to victories with knocks of 74 not out and 37 against Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators. Those performances helped him scoop the player of the match prize on both occasions as he helped secure his side a semi-final berth.

Fakhar Zaman

The Pakistan opener came to the party in a big way during the penultimate week with two half-centuries for Qalandars. It would be fair to say he was overshadowed by teammate Chris Lynn in the chase against Multan Sultans, but he still outscored the Aussie in their century partnership. He had previously outscored his teammate in the win over Peshawar Zalmi with a fine 63 at the top of the order.

Zeeshan Ashraf

The 27-year-old proved to be the difference as Sultans booked a place in the semi-finals for the first time. He smashed 52 from 39 balls in Karachi as his side put on 154 for 6. It might not have been an expansive knock but he was one of the few batsmen able to adapt to the conditions.

PSL 2020 rescheduled and restructured as closed-door final in Lahore is announced for March 18

Chris Lynn

The Australian hit the highest score of the competition and just the third century of the PSL after hitting 113 to helped beat Sultans in Lahore. It was a brutal innings from Lynn, who played second fiddle to Fakhar before unleashing some hammer blows. His knock came at a strike-rate of 205.45 and included eight lusty maximums as Qalandars made short work of a formidable target. He will be missed.

Cameron Delport

It has been a rather dry competition for the South African all in all but he produced a welcome contribution albeit in defeat to Gladiators. Coming in at 30 for 2, he struck 62 from 44 deliveries to salvage an innings which looked doomed. Gladiators chased down the target with relative ease, but it would have been a battering for Kings without Delport, whose best could still be yet to come.

Khushdil Shah

In a week in which Sultans reached the knock-out stage for the first time in PSL history, Shah played two vital knocks. His 30 off 20 balls against Zalmi was hardly blistering but in a match won by just three runs it was vital. Somewhat perversely he hit a truly remarkable 70 from just 25 balls including 11 boundaries but in a losing cause against Qalandars as Lynn ran riot.

^{Cameron Delport produced a timely performance}

Carlos Brathwaite

Not a great week for bowlers but Brathwaite had decent success as Zalmi lost to Qalandars. The West Indies allrounder took an unlikely 3-28, getting rid of a dangerous middle-order of Lynn, Ben Dunk and Mohammad Hafeez in the space of seven balls. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as Qalandars claimed victory with a ball to spare.

Sohail Tanvir

Though Sohail got rid of Wahab Riaz during his first spell, it was upon his return at the death when he did the real damage. He got rid of an in-form Iman-ul-Haq and then Hammad Azam as Zalmi fell agonisingly short of the Sultans' total. A good return to form after his four-wicket haul in the reverse fixture.

Shaheen Afridi

Watching the left-armer in full flight is starting to become one of the great sights in modern-day global cricket. Afridi took five wickets in the week and took a particular likeness to English batters, getting Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory and Moeen Ali with fearsome, swinging deliveries. Indeed, the ball which got rid of Ali was one of the balls of the tournament; a fine yorker which would have done for any batsman.

^{Shaheen Afridi has plenty of reason to celebrate this week}

Arshad Iqbal

Has been limited to just five outings due to Kings' depth of bowling options, but he proved himself twice during the last week. He bowling superbly in taking 2-15, combining prudent lines with an ability to unnerve batsman, including Chris Lynn. He returned with two further scalps in defeat to Gladiators but came away with Shane Watson's wicket. It remains to be seen whether we get to see any more of his talent in the knock-out stage.

Naseem Shah

Another player onlookers would have liked to have seen more of but there remains little doubt of his ability at the highest level. He claimed wickets with the new and old ball, getting Sharjeel Khan with his second delivery and Chadwick Walton with his last. Both strikes ended up being crucial as Kings beat Gladiators.