Published: Feb 17, 2017, 08:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 18, 2017, 01:30 AM (IST)
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of Match 10 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings. This match will be played at Sharjah, where the previous match of the day between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators was interrupted by rain. We could be in for some rain delays in this match as well. However, Karachi Kings have now lost seven matches in a row in the tournament, which include three in this edition alone. They suffered a narrow 7-run loss in their match against the Lahore Qalandars on Thursday. Islamabad United on the other hand have won two out of their three matches so far.
In their previous match, Islamabad United completed an easy 5-wicket win against Quetta Gladiators. Chasing a modest total of 149, opener Sam Billings struck an unbeaten 50-ball 78 to ensure United won off the last over. Karachi Kings on the other hand were on their way to an easy win in their previous game. Shoaib Malik and skipper Kumar Sangakkara put on 101 for the third wicket. Barring Sangakkara’s 65 and Malik’s 39, none of the batsmen stepped up and as a result, conceded the match in the end. Qalandars to their credit kept the pressure on the batsmen despite a good show from Malik and Sangakkara.
Karachi Kings are not short of firepower though. They have the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Ravi Bopara, who can turn the match on its heads at any juncture. United have an extremely strong batting line-up and are also blessed with some good bowlers. Dwayne Smith, Billings, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq constitute the top 5, which is perhaps the best in the tournament.
Squads:
Karachi Kings: Kumar Sangakkara (c & wk), Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Ravi Bopara, Chris Gayle, Hasan Mohsin, Imad Wasim, Mahela Jayawardene, Kashif Bhatti, Khurram Manzoor, Ryan McLaren, Mohammad Amir, Kieron Pollard, Rahat Ali, Saifullah Bangash, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Khan, Usama Mir.
Islamabad United: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Shane Watson, Steven Finn, Samuel Badree, Brad Haddin (wk), Sam Billings, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Sami, Khalid Latif, Saeed Ajmal, Asif Ali, Rumman Raees, Imran Khalid, Amad Butt, Hussain Talat. Supplementary players: Dwayne Smith, Ben Duckett, Shadab Khan, Zohaib Khan.
