Nasser Hussain, DK & Kumar Sangakkara included in mega commentary panel for WTC Final

PSL 2021 Preview: Struggling Peshawar, depleted Karachi seek redemption

Peshawar Zalmi will take on Karachi Kings on Wednesday in the second fixture of the day in Abu Dhabi. The two teams are coming into this match after suffering defeats in the respective previous games. While Peshawar is placed at number three spot with four wins and 8 points, Imad Qasim-led Karachi are following them at number four with three wins and 6 points in seven matches that they have played so far. The two sides struggled with their bowling unit in the last respective matches. However, Karachi skipper Imad Wasim accepted that he had run out of bowling options and wasn’t able to complete four overs himself after injuring his finger. While the bowlers struggled for both the sides, the batting units were up for the task surely and it would be interesting to see how Babar Azam who took on the Islamabad United’s bowling attack and struck a fine half-century in a losing cause fares against Peshawar. Babar is in some good form and has been among the runs for quite a while now. The only problem is his scoring rate while chasing a target. A bit of tweaking is surely required and if he does that, Babar can take the game away from the opposition at any given stage. Interestingly, in their last encounter with each other, it was Babar Azam who anchored Karachi to a win by 6 wickets after helping his side chase down 189 in Karachi during the first leg of the tournament. The right-handed batsman remained unbeaten 77 off 47 balls. So, if Karachi are chasing a total and Azam unleashes what he did a few months back against Peshawar, the Kings can generate some positive results for themselves and get themselves back on track. Match Details Match – Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings – 24th match Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Time – 11:30 PM IST, 06:00 PM GMT Pitch Report The tracks in Abu Dhabi have something on offer for the spinners but the teams chasing at night have also been benefited. In the last game between Islamabad and Karachi, the United team rode on some exceptional batting from Colin Munro and Iftikhar to chase down a mammoth target of 191 by 8 wickets. The dew might also come into play so, if you win the toss, elect to field. Team News Karachi Kings: Karachi Kings had a struggling time while bowling against Islamabad United and the captain Imad Wasim would be seeking some help from the team’s think tank to make some alterations in the bowling department. While bowling might be a cause of concern for Karachi, opener Babar Azam is in some fine form and would be looking to continue what he has been doing the best for the past few matches. Peshawar Zalmi: Peshawar Zalmi will be without the services of tDavid Miller and Fabien Allen and Fidel Edwards as the three players will be featuring in the five-match T20I series between South Africa and West Indies starting from June 26. “It is pity that I have to leave,” said Miller while speaking to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “My time with the franchise has been amazing. We have a family environment and a combination of world-class players. A lot of young guys are coming up as well. I think they have a balanced squad and nice replacements available.” Zalmi’s bowling can be a cause of concern for the team management and the absence of Miller who was in some good touch also creates a void that needs to be filled cautiously. Probable XI Peshawar Zalmi: Imam-ul-Haq, Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz (c), Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Amad Butt Karachi Kings: Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Martin Guptill, Najibullah Zadran, Chadwick Walton (wk), Imad Wasim (c), Thisara Perera, Abbas Afridi, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal Fantasy XI Imam-ul-Haq, Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik (VC), Imad Wasim, Babar Azam (C), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Imran, Wahab Riaz, Arshad Iqbal

PSL 2021 | Colin Munro, Iftikhar Ahmed anchor Islamabad to 8-wicket win over Karachi

Islamabad United were on a carnage on Monday after they thumped Karachi Kings by 8 wickets while chasing a stiff target of 191 in 20 overs. Islamabad suffered an early blow after Usman Khawaja was sent back in the hut by Abbas Afridi for 12 off 16 and it was then followed by Muhammad Akhlaq’s wicket who was undone for 1 by Maqsood. The United side was struggling at 41/2 in the sixth over when opener Colin Munro was joined by Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle. The two batsmen resisted well against the Karachi bowlers and then went after the target with precision. Munro who has been in some good form in the tournament remained unbeaten at 88 off 56 while Ahmed scored a 39-ball 71* during the course. Kings bowlers especially Thisara Perera, Arshaq Iqbal and Abbas Afridi were taken on by the batsmen and were hit for runs all around the park. Earlier, Karachi rode on some fine batting from Babar Azam and Najibullah to put 190/4 in 20 overs on the board. Babar notched up yet another half-century to score 81 off 54 while Najibullah remained not out for 71 in 42 deliveries. With this win against Karachi, Islamabad United now have six wins and 12 points from 8 matches and are sitting at the helm of the points table. Karachi captain Imad Wasim admitted that the side didn’t really have much options in the bowling department and he himself wasn’t able to complete his four overs because he had sustained an injury in his finger. “We don't have many options with the ball, to be frank. It was harder for the spinners and I couldn't bowl all my overs because my finger was injured, and we need to talk about this to be honest. We were 15-20 runs short, and we should've targeted the bowlers a lot better. We played poorly, didn't take our catches, and if we don't play well enough, we can't expect results to go our way. Nothing to lose, so we'll definitely try to come back hard,” he said. Winning captain Shadab Khan put his weight behind the balance that the team has. “It's a team game and when our top-order fails then our lower order performs well, so I think everyone understands their roles well,” Shadab said. Islamabad will now take on Peshawar while Karachi will be up against Lahore Qalandars on Thursday.

WTC Final: Devon Conway, Ajaz Patel included in New Zealand's 15-man squad

New Zealand have announced the squad for the final of the inaugural World Test Championship which is slated to begin on June 18 in Southampton. The side that would be led by Kane Williamson has picked Ajaz Patel as the specialist spinner. Doug Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner who were a part of the two-match Test series against England haven’t made a cut in the side. "There's had to be some tough calls with Mitchell and Daryl victims of the fierce competition we currently have for places in the Test side," head coach Gary Stead said. Stead lavished praised on Patel and said that he could be a “factor” when the New Zealand team takes on India in the WTC final in Southampton. "We've gone with Ajaz as our specialist spinner after an impressive outing at Edgbaston and we believe he could be a factor at the Ageas Bowl,” he added. Opener Devon Conway has also found a place for himself in the 15-man team. Conway stamped authority with the bat on his debut after scoring a double-century at Lord’s. The visitors defeated England 1-0 in the series to clinch only their third Test series win in the country earlier. The first match between the two sides ended in a draw while the Blackcaps won the second clash at Edgbaston by 8 wickets after the bowlers rattled the hosts in the second innings. Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Will Young.

WTC final | Scott Styris gives Rohit Sharma no chance in bowling-friendly conditions

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has said that Indian opener and one of the vital cog of the Indian batting lineup Rohit Sharma will struggle against if there will be movement in and off the pitch during the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand. He pointed out that Sharma does not move his feet around too much while facing the new ball and that could well lead to his downfall in England. “It is pitch dependent… I think I can’t stress that enough. I think if the ball is moving around then Rohit will have his struggles. Rohit doesn’t really moves his feet a lot early in his innings. If that’s the case, then the swinging ball could be a problem for him,” Styris said during Star Sports’ show ‘Game Plan.’ Notably, Rohit Sharma missed the India’s tour of New Zealand early last year due to injury and hence his batting at the top of the order has not been tested in conditions helpful for swing and seam bowling. Rohit, in the past, has struggled against left arm pacer and New Zealand have two of the best such bowlers going around in the world cricket. Trent Boult has been the New Zealand’s go to man in the longest format with the new ball while Wagner has been used as an enforcer who can purchase wicket with a relatively older ball. Styris outlined the role Wagner has played in the rise of New Zealand cricket and in the World Test Championship and said that the Blackcaps would sue him in the middle phase of the innings to get attacking at India’s skipper Virat Kohli after the new ball spells from Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson. “There is no secret to New Zealand’s fast bowling plan if you like and that is Southee, Boult and either Jamieson or de Grandhomme will be the third seamer and they bowled till about the 22nd to 28th over with a new ball,” he said. “And then Neil Wagner comes into the equation. So, when you talk about Wagner, it’s his ability to be aggressive and be a genuine wicket-taking option for somebody like (Virat) Kohli in those middle overs till the new ball comes around.” India lost the last series against New Zealand and the skepticism over batting shared by Styris is not new for the Kohli’s side. Add to that the big stage of final of a global tournament and it sets up for a riveting contest come June 18 in Southampton.