Babar Azam To Bring In Bangladesh Ace? Peshawar Zalmi's Probable XI vs Islamabad

George Linde and nahid Rana [Source: @LawrenceBailey0/X]

The PSL 2025 is underway in full swing and the first few matches have been action-packed. With the 5th match of the tournament approaching, the Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi would like to lean onto some changes after their campaign opener defeat against Quetta Gladiators.

Here's a detailed look at some of the probable changes that the team can make ahead of their second PSL clash on April 14 against Islamabad United to have the most benefit on field.

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Predicted Playing XI of Peshawar Zalmi Against Islamabad United

However, before delving into the changes, let's take a look at the playing XI of Peshawar Zalmi in their previous encounter against Gladiators.

Playing XI of Peshawar Zalmi In Last Match Against Quetta Gladiators:

Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Hussain Talat, Mitchell Owen, Max Bryant, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammad Ali, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza

Predicted Playing XI vs Islamabad United

Nahid Rana in place of Mohammad Ali

Mohammad Ali endured a tough outing with the ball in his last outing against Quetta, leaking 57 runs in his four overs without picking up a wicket, returning an economy rate of 14.25. In the context of T20 cricket, that is a significant liability.

Introducing Nahid Rana offers Zalmi a fresh pace option, potentially bringing better control and wicket-taking ability. Rana’s recent domestic form and ability to bowl in the powerplay and death overs make him a suitable replacement who could plug the leak with the new ball.

Table - Stats Of Nahid Rana In BPL

George Linde in place of Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Cadmore’s form has dipped drastically, being dismissed for a duck in the last game and showing vulnerability early on. With the middle-order crumbling, Zalmi needs a utility player who can offer dual skills also keeping in mind the limit for overseas players, though George Linde will not bat up the order, Max Bryant can be replaced to bring in a domestic player and fill the gap.

Table - George Linde's stats in T20s

Meanwhile, Linde adds flexibility with his left-arm spin and can contribute as a floater in the batting lineup. He not only brings control in the middle overs with the ball but also has the power to clear boundaries, making him an ideal replacement to balance the XI.

Maaz Sadaqat replaces Max Bryant

Max Bryant’s inclusion proved ineffective, as he fell for a golden duck and offered no impact in the field in the last match. As stated previously, Zalmi requires a batter who can rotate strike and build innings under pressure in place of an overseas player. 

Therefore, Sadaqat being a technically sound batter, he has shown consistency in the domestic circuit. He can anchor the innings or accelerate depending on the situation, providing more stability than Max Bryant in the lower middle order.

Peshawar Zalmi's Predicted XI Against Islamabad United

Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Maaz Sadaqat, Hussain Talat, Mitchell Owen, George Linde, Alzarri Joseph, Nahid Rana, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza

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