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PSL 6: Formidable Kings up against challenging Islamabad for early-season bragging rights clash

Abhishek Singh

The Karachi Kings started their season in a brilliant fashion humiliating Quetta Gladiators by seven wickets with more than 37 balls remaining. In their second game, they will be up against an Islamabad United side which proved Pundits wrong to win a game from being seven wickets down and still needing 34 runs off the last four overs. 

In this game, the two teams, one supremely talented on paper and one gritty to the core will battle it out for early-season bragging rights. This game is also interesting in the sense that Babar Azam, the current skipper of the Pakistan national t20 side will be up against a probable contender for that post in Shadab Khan, the skipper of Islamabad United. 

Kings look to continue the winning momentum

Babar, the prominent stars of Kings hasn’t been in a good nick for quite some time. He failed big time against South Africa in both the limited-overs as well as the Tests, not being able to score even a single hundred in seven innings.  Apart from his form, the team looks impeccable with both bowlers and batsmen firing in tandem. 

Sharjeel Khan is another concern. But looking at his form in the domestic circuit off late, sooner or later he will be the vintage Sharjeel who takes the bowlers to cleaners with the sword in his hand. All eyes would also be on all-rounder Arshad Iqbal who was supremely good with the ball, picking three wickets in the lat game. 

United to go for course correction in batting

Hussain Talat, Asif Ali and Phil Salt, the batsmen who are looked up to by their team to give them a quick and formidable start. Alex Hales was still good and was done by a quick flipper Shahid Afridi. But it is these batsmen along with skipper Shadab himself who need to get going if United are to challenge the might of the Karachi team. 

Lewis Gregory is a big plus point for the United, being effective both the bat and ball. He needs to bat a bit up the order to be able to fully utilise the deliveries. Apart from their batting, Islamabad also needs to give more overs to Zafar Gohar if they are playing him as a bowling all-rounder. The left-arm spinner bowled only a single over in the last game. 

Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United: Match Details

Match Number- 06

Venue- National Stadium, Karachi

Date and Time: 24th February, 07:30 pm IST, 07:00 pm Local, 02:00 pm GMT

Broadcast and Live Stream: Sony Ten and Sony LIV

Pitch Report

In the last five games, three different pitches have been used and all of them have been true wickets, offering plenty of runs to the batsmen if they are able to time the ball, as was exemplified by Mohammad Hafeez in the Quetta vs Lahore match. If bowlers are able to pitch the ball in the right areas, they too are getting the purchase off the wicket. This match would most likely have a new pitch as well. But it would also most likely be a true wicket, a feature of the National Stadium at Karachi. 

Weather and Toss

The Karachi weather seems to have no surprises for guessing as clear skies will be the order of the day. Just like clear skies, dew will also remain a constant forcing skippers to take the field after winning the toss. 

Probable XIs

Karachi Kings

Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Joe Clarke (wk), Colin Ingram, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Christian, Imad Wasim (c), Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal

Islamabad United

Alex Hales, Philip Salt (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Wasim Jr

Dream XI / Fantasy XI

Alex Hales (vc), Babar Azam (c), Joe Clarke (wk), Asif Ali, Mohammad Nabi, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood

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