PSL 7: Islamabad United to lock horns with COVID-hit Zalmi in first eliminator today

Alex Hales and Shadab Khan will play tonight's match against Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore

By Web Desk
February 24, 2022
Shadab Khan (L) and Wahab Riaz (R) — PCB

LAHORE: The two relatively weaker sides, Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United — hard hit by injuries and COVID-19 — will be up against each other in the first eliminator playoff of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium today.

The match starts at 07:30 PM (PST).

Zalmi and United are placed at the third and fourth spot on the points table with twelve and eight points respectively.

Clear sky is predicted on the day, but the temperature between the two teams is expected to rise as the match is a do or die situation for them. The teams have met 19 times in the past in PSL with Peshawar having won nine matches while Islamabad pocketed victories in eight outings.

It is yet to confirm about Islamabad’s skipper Shadab Khan recovery from groin injury. If he is in the playing XI, their team would play with a different combination. On the other hand, Alex Hales availability bolsters Islamabad because he is the top run-scorer with 255 runs at a strike rate of 156.

Shadab has been the best bowler for Islamabad United and has picked up 17 wickets with a superb economy rate of 6.04.

Whereas from Peshawar, Shoaib Malik is the top run-scorer with 346 runs at a strike rate of 138. Ben Cutting has also made 197 runs at a strike rate of 164. Salman Irshad has been the best bowler for Peshawar Zalmi and has picked up 12 wickets with an economy rate of 8.32.

The toss would be expected to play a cruicial role in the play-off between Zalmi and United.

The winner of this match will play against the losing team of the Qualifier match.

Head-to-Head: 

Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United have faced each other 17 times since the beginning of the PSL. Peshawar Zalmi have won nine times, while United have won eight matches. 

Possible Playing XIs:

Peshawar Zalmi: Hazratullah Zazai, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shoaib Malik, Hussain Talat, Haider Ali, Wahab Riaz (c), Khalid Usman, Amad Butt, Muhammad Umar, Arshad Iqbal

Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Mubashir Khan, Liam Dawson, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali (c), Azam Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Merchant de Lange, Waqas Maqsood, Muhammad Musa

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