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PSL 6: With captain Wahab, coach Sammy isolated due to covid scare, Zalmi look for inspiration against Qalandars

Abhishek Singh

In their very first game of the season, Peshwar Zalmi would be up against Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium in Karachi. While Zalmi are the 2017 champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Qalandars are still searching for their elusive title. Zalmi though would be looking to find inspiration within as their skipper Wahab Riaz and coach Daren Sammy have been isolated for three days after coming in contact with a covid-19 positive person. 

The head to head record between the two teams stands in favour of Zalmi for the last seven games. The team from the Hindukush mountain ranges have won five out of their last seven games against the Qalandars. But there is still some positivity to be gained for the Lahore side as far as head to head meetings are concerned. Lahore has won the last two games played by these sides, including the eliminator of PSL 2020. 

Well balanced Qalandars, a great challenge for Zalmi

The Lahore Qalandars have got a great combination of bowlers and batters and look very threatening on paper. With the presence of the likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Joe Denly, Ben Dunk, Fakhar Zaman and skipper Sohail Akhtar, the batting looks as strong as it can get. The bowling department has international stars like Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, who will be supported by the likes of Dilbar Hussain and David Weise, making it one of the most fearsome attacks in the entire league. 

With such a balanced side, Lahore is a team that would be meaning business from the very first game. 

Batting heavy Zalmi count on experience heads to get them through

Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Kamaran Akmal and David Miller are such names who have won games single-handedly for their sides on their day. With captain and coach out of the first game, the Zalmi would be counting on theses experience heads only to get them through this game. 

Apart from the experience, there is a good mix of youth as well in the side. Haider Ali, Imam-Ul-Haq are few such examples who have done brilliantly in past years and can be trusted to do well this season as well. 

Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi: Match Details

Match Number- 02

Date and Time: 21st February, 02:30 pm IST, 02:00 pm Local, 09:00 am GMT

Venue- National Stadium, Karachi

Broadcast and Live stream: Sony Six and Sony LIV

Pitch Report

It is going to be a day game in Karachi and hence the pitch is likely to offer some grip to the spinners. Also, it will be a used pitch, on which the first PSL game was played, hence the likes of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman can get some purchase of it, especially in the second innings. 

Weather and Toss

In hot and dry weather with no chances of any rain, or even a cloud passing by and the pitch getting ever so dry, the team winning the toss would go for a bat first. 

Probable XIs

Peshawar Zalmi

Kamran Akmal(w), Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik (c), David Miller, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ravi Bopara, Amad Butt, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Irfan, Umaid Asif

Lahore Qalandars

Fakhar Zaman, Ben Dunk, Mohammad Hafeez, Joe Denly, Sohail Akhtar(c), David Wiese, Zeeshan Ashraf(w), Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain 

Dream XI/ Fantasy XI: Kamran Akmal (w), Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez(c), David Miller, Joe Denly, Mohammad Faizan, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Rashid Khan(vc), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

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