1. Dothrakis Captain Sunny Naveed
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
Fair chance, but we can’t count anyone out this year. Dynasty, North and Shooters are very credible championship contenders. The Ones are up there, too.
I think the league/commissioner has done a good job of spreading talent relatively equally across the division, thereby curating intensely competitive matchups. This dynamic is evidenced by the likes of MonStars and Troopers, both of whom are greatly underrated and talented in my view, but happen to find themselves being lowly seeded.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
The toughest aspects have been playing as a new rookie team and maintaining composure with all the extraneous trash talking said against us throughout the season, often voiced by the same set of players in the league.
In my view, the top teams exude greater maturity and professionalism. Such teams speak via their teams’ actions on the field, rather than spend an inordinate amount of time stroking their own egos and perpetually boasting about themselves in a league chat. It’s not surprising that the biggest trash talkers belong to less elite teams and conversely offer the most excuses. Every game we have lost, we have learned from; we commend and applaud the winning team – not make weak arguments. If we lose, the other team was simply better than us. Period.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Defense – both in the infield and in the outfield. Every team in the division can match up offensively, but defense is the real differentiator in my view among the elite teams. Another x-factor – that is often less talked about – is situational hitting and having more calculated at-bats in accordance to the field set by the opposing team while you’re up at the plate.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
This is a team sport, not an individual one. Nobody on our team cares about being MVP, they care more about winning. Nevertheless, if I had to pick a team MVP, it would be hard to do so because there is no major star on our squad. This speaks to the balance of our team; each player knows their role and adapts to the situation.
2. Dynasty Captain Sajid Kakana
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
Dynasty always has challenges but we are resilient and we always come back strong. This year our chances are much better but we just enjoy the ride.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
The toughest part is staying youthful and healthy, a few guys take some injuries but we try to accommodate and move on.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
We have a few guys that are leading in stats in the league but injuries can be our achilles heal to that success.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
My bias is always Yamin, guy is a beast but the run is always etched between the top 3 stat leaders and teams taking the chip.
3. The North Captain Irfan Musliwala
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
Offense has been an issue for us for about a month now, so as long as we can get that going with our top 10 and play defense as we have been, I feel pretty confident about bringing the trophy home.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
Playing the Dothrakis. They whooped us so bad our grandmas felt it. Hopefully that served as a turning point for us as we head into the playoffs.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Limiting the mental mistakes. Hitting the cut and knowing the situation while being a runner on the bases.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
Gotta go with Pops! The Paki Swiss Army knife. Plays any position admirably and bunts to get on base.
4. The Ones Captain Naeem Bhalli
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
I feel like when everything is all set and done, we have a very good chance of winning the championship. Since I’ve been playing in this league, This year is by far the most competitive SASL season. Also probably the best Ones roster we’ve put together.
I don’t want to think too far ahead. So we as a unit are focused at the task at hand. HS Team in the first round is a big task. So we’ll have to be on point to make it past them.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
Toughest thing would be the challenge of covid. Making sure we had a safe environment for our guys to play and feel comfortable.
There were a few scares during the season, but we got through them and continued without skipping a beat aL.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
For Ones to advance to the semi finals we would have to minimize on errors. If we play solid defense and pitching we have a very good shot of advancing. We have come a long way from the start of the season to where we are now.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
We made so many great additions to the squad from Saif, Waqas, Denen, Kevin, Shiz etc. But I think we can all agree…
💯 without a question, Yoba. He is the team MVP and league MVP.
Without him we aren’t a top contender in 2020. It’s not even his stats, He’s been a huge help to myself and the other captains. He’s been a team player and plays wherever the team needs him too. He brings positive energy and coaches guys along the way. On SASL chat I’ve heard a lot of negative stuff about Yoba. But he’s one of the nicest and humble teammates I’ve played with.
5. Hit Squad Captain Ali Najimi
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
I think we have a good chance of winning a Championship this year but it won’t be easy. There are a lot of quality teams in the playoffs and any one of them can win it all. Our goal from the beginning of the season was to win our Third Championship in a row and that goal still has not changed.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
The toughest part of the season was when we had injuries to both Ankit and Ahmed Halimi. We got through it and we were able to win enough games to avoid SNL where anything could happen in one game.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Defense will be key in our first round series, we can’t afford to allow 26 runs and 15 runs in 2 games like we did in the regular season against the Ones.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
I know Saad won’t be happy when I say this, Wahid has been our MVP for this season. He has been able to keep the opponents off balance with his 10 different pitches. As long as our defense made the routine plays we have had a good chance of winning every game.
6. Shooter McGavins Captain Zulfikar Musliwala
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
Superb. We seemingly play to the level of our competition which bodes will for the playoffs.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
Starting out 0-6 and navigating a team with high expectations and the talent to match.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Energy.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
Handful of guys are deserving but I’d have to give it to Khurram. One of our top players who is the first on the field every week and holds himself just as accountable as he would anyone else. Can’t help but respect that. He’s the engine that’ll drive us to the chip.
7. MonStars Captain Salman Quader
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
There is no team that manhandled us any weeks. Any time we lost, we lose because of our defensive errors and careless plays or because of blue. We can definitely win it all.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
We have a lot of similiar players on our team, the toughest part has been finding a consistent best 10. Every week someone shines and someone else struggles but when you look at their offensive numbers, its almost identical as a whole. In addition, we have a lot of solid defensive guys and its been hard to point out whos actually better than who.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
The x-factor for the Monstars has been the silver surfer, Kunal. When hes on, we’re all on. When he’s off, it affects us all. He’s our X-factor because he’s such a great teammate, unselfish and a great softball player. He bats in the heart of our lineup and has come up clutch several times this season. He puts us over top and will do so in the playoffs.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
Vinny is our MVP. Aside from leading us in several categories, Vinny is a great hype man and riles up our team when needed. He’s always encouraging players 1-15, calls out our wins, and advises on DL when we make mistakes. When your best player gives you that, it trickles down to the rest of the team.
8. TSFE Captain Prince Panicker
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
’You Play To Win The Game!’- Herm Edwards.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
Every week was tough. Good competition this year. Also we had a very good roster where juggling playing time is hard. That part of being a captain is the worst.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Playing a complete game. Some weeks we didn’t hit. Other weeks our fielding was subpar. We left a lot of wins on the table, but we put ourselves in this situation. If we can put it altogether now, we can make noise. The good teams are great on both sides of the ball. We have to do that now if we want to advance.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
We’ve gotten good contributions from a number of players, but I’d definitely say Chris. He’s been our guy to drive in runs and stabilize the order.
9. Black Mambas Captain Azhar Naqvi
1. Going into playoffs, how do you feel about your teams chances to win the championship?
I believe, Black Mambas have as good of a shot of winning as any of the teams in the Playoffs. I feel like we match up well against every team.
2. What was the toughest part of the regular season for you and your team and why?
The toughest part was getting the right group of guys together. There were a lot of roster moves and adjustments that were made. This is why we seen such an up and down season from us.
3. What do you feel is the x-factor for your team to advance on to the next round?
Captain America, hes a beast! That’s easy. Joking, we have to buy into the Mamba Mentality and play some serious defense.
4. Who do you feel is the team MVP this season and why?
Dan is the MVP of SASL year in and year out. But from the beginning of the year til the end, it’s been Danny and Pete who have been bringing it every week.
