Sky247 Staff
Karachi Kings and Islamabad United face off in a crucial encounter of the Pakistan Super League. Both teams tasted victories in the previous match and will be looking to continue their winning run.
Karachi are laced with match winners from top to bottom. Players like Sharjeel Khan, Joe Clarke, Colin Ingram, can be destructive with the bat. Add to that the class of Babar Azam. The top order looks absolutely packed and getting through them will be a challenge for any opposition. Even if you get through them, you have Mohammed Nabi, Daniel Christian and Imad Wasim to follow, so there is no respite for the bowlers.
Coming to Islamabad United, they too are not short on quality. Philip Salt, Alex Hales, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan are top quality players. However, they can be a bit inconsistent at times. In the last game as well, had Lewis Gregory not played a blinder, they would have struggled to win the match.
So who’s the favourite to win the match? We think the Karachi Kings have a better chance of coming out on top. They are the defending champions and looked in complete command in the opening game. They were lethal with the ball and bowled out Quetta Gladiator for a paltry 121 before chasing it down with just 3 wickets down.
Key Players
Babar Azam – Babar Azam is one of the best player going around in world cricket. Yes, he hasn’t been in the best of form of late but he’s capable enough to turn the tables with a blink of an eye. He was setting up for a big score in the last match but was dismissed for 24. He’ll eye a big one in the upcoming game.
Mohammed Nabi – Mohammed Nabi played a quick fire knock of 30 of 14 deliveries on the last match. This is what he brings to the table. He can play these short yet match defining knocks in the final overs. With the ball as well, he’s more than useful.
Alex Hales – Alex Hales was looking really solid before he got a beauty from Shahid Afridi that cut short his knock to 29 runs. When in full flow, Hales can decimate a bowling opposition. He had a good run in the Big Bash League and would look to replicate his success in the PSL as well.
Karachi Kings Probable XI – Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Joe Clarke, Colin Ingram, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Christian, Imad Wasim(c), Aamer Yamin, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal
Islamabad United Probable XI – Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Shadab Khan(c), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim
