Peshawar Zalmi will lock horns with Karachi Kings in a crucial clash of the ongoing eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Wednesday (tomorrow).
The match will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, which is all set to host its first match of the PSL 8.
Karachi are sitting in fourth place with four points in six matches, while Peshawar are currently placed fifth with four points in five games.
Both sides will be looking to secure a win to improve their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
Karachi will be a more confident side as they thrashed league leaders Multan Sultans by 66 runs in their previous match at the National Bank Cricket in Karachi. Meanwhile, the Babar Azam-led Peshawar lost to defending champions Lahore Qalandars by 40 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Imad Wasim’s side finally clicked against Multan on Sunday. They made a few prominent changes, which paid off. Haider Ali was replaced by Tayyab Tahir, while Tabraiz Shamsi took Imran Tahir’s place.
The two newcomers delivered for their side with Tayyab scoring a half-century and Shamsi claiming three wickets against Multan.
Karachi also got a boost in their batting lineup as English wicketkeeper-batter Adam Rossington joined the squad in Lahore last night.
But Karachi are likely to be without their main bowler Mohammad Amir, who sustained a groin injury against Multan Sultans on February 22.
The pacer didn’t play the match against Multan Sultans in the second leg and might miss the Peshawar clash.
On the other hand, Peshawar couldn’t chase the mammoth 241-run target against Lahore as they were restricted to 201 runs in 20 overs.
Despite the defeat, Peshawar had some good takeaways from the game as Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Saim Ayub again found their way back to scoring runs for the side.
After the departure of Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam, Saim and Cadmore put on a magnificent 91-run partnership off just 44 balls.
However, the Yellow Storm’s power hitters, including Rovman Powell, James Neesham, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, haven’t delivered with the bat yet.
Peshawar will aim to make a comeback, while Karachi will eye to secure back-to-back wins after their dismal start to their PSL campaign.